She was born Patricia Kelly Carton on November 27, 1943, to Marie Kelly and Charles P. Carton in Philadelphia, PA. Trish grew up in a close-knit Irish American family in Philadelphia. She attended Mount St. Joseph's Academy there and earned a bachelor's degree in speech and drama from Adelphi University in Garden City, New York.
Trish was passionate about civil rights and folk music, and worked as a welfare caseworker in New York City, where she met Kenneth Feld, whom she married in 1968. The couple moved to Waterbury in 1972, where they raised a family. In 1978 Trish opened a restaurant, Soup's On!, on Foundry Street, which developed a devoted following.
In 1986 Trish sold the restaurant and changed careers. She became a librarian, working at Waterbury Public Library and later as children's librarian at Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, before becoming school librarian at Waterbury Elementary School. In 1996 Trish left to take the library media specialist position at the new Crossett Brook Middle School in Duxbury. As a member of the founding educational team, Trish played a big part in shaping the ethos and spirit of the school. Her passion for reading, learning and civil engagement lives on in her students.
A very active member of the Waterbury community, Trish was always first in line to help out when someone needed a hand. Her kindness was universal - be it a student who needed encouragement, a neighbor who needed support at a tough time, or a customer at her restaurant, Trish made everyone feel special. She lit up a room with her great sense of humor and affectionate, easygoing manner.
She enjoyed curling up with a good book and a cup of tea, watching movies or hockey, listening to music, and traveling in recent years to China, Portugal and England. Above all, she loved good food and good times with family and friends. In the last several months of her life, an aggressive brain tumor left her unable to work or enjoy many of her favorite things, but she faced this difficult time with characteristic grace and humor.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Feld, and son, Benjamin Feld, of Waterbury; her daughter, Kate Feld, son-in-law, Richard Roe, and granddaughter, Rebecca, of Lancashire, England; a sister, GeeDee Kerr of Sarasota, FL; and brothers, Guy, Kelly and Patrick Hayden of Philadelphia, PA; as well as cousins, nieces, nephews and devoted friends across the country.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated from St. Andrew Catholic Church in Waterbury, Vermont, on Wednesday, April 18, at 11 a.m. A reception was held in the church parish hall.
People are invited to greet the family at McIlvaine Funeral Home, 3711 Midvale Avenue, East Falls, Philadelphia, between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 20. Interment to follow at 11 a.m. at Westminster Cemetery, Belmont Avenue, Philadelphia.
The family requests that flowers be omitted; rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to Friends of Harwood Hockey, P.O. Box 92, Waterbury, VT 05676; or Devereux, The Whitlock Center, 139 Leopard Road, Berwyn, PA 19312. To send online condolences, please visit www.perkinsparker.com. The Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury is assisting the family.
