Arden Hills, MN - Patricia "Patsy" Louise (Fraher) Okaya, a gifted mezzo-soprano, devotee of the arts, loving mother, and cherished friend passed away peacefully on July 23. She was 94.

Born and raised in Mobridge, South Dakota, Patsy was the youngest of three daughters born to Ralph and Louise Fraher. Raised in a home filled with music and art, she sang three-part harmonies with her sisters and regularly soloed at school and church, winning first place in state music competitions each year of high school. As a girl, Patsy was also horse-crazy and enjoyed riding her horse Skipper in rodeos and out on the prairie.

Patsy attended Macalester College and earned a BA in Voice from the University of Montana, as well as an MA in Voice from Northwestern University, where she studied conducting, composition, and vocal performance. In 1954 while still in graduate school, she was hired by the Lyric Opera of Chicago for chorus and comprimario roles, singing for four years alongside numerous opera luminaries of the 1950s while also performing as an oratorio, symphony, and choral soloist across the South- and Midwest. From Chicago she moved to Vienna, Austria to study and perform as a soloist with the Vienna Kammeroper and other musical ensembles, and then continued similar work in New York City. Joining the National Opera Company in 1959, she toured the US singing the title roles of Carmen and Cenerentola, with the latter also broadcast nationally on public television.

Patsy married Akira Okaya, a Japanese physicist who was teaching and conducting early laser research at Columbia University. Together they raised three children—Amy, Sara, and Ken—settling in New Canaan, Connecticut, during which time Patsy earned a second MA in Music Education. Patsy later worked for 16 years at the American Geological Institute in Alexandria, Virginia, before retiring to St. Paul, Minnesota.

Wherever she lived, Patsy remained active as a musician. She taught voice and piano, and performed in operas, operettas, and as a soloist in churches and synagogues. She was also a discerning and supportive fan of numerous artists, writers, and arts organizations in the Twin Cities, often helping to create further opportunities for them to showcase their work.

Over the course of her life, Patsy made many close friends, including childhood friends from Mobridge, her Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority sisters, the "Ladies of the Pool", artists and writers of many kinds, and members of the Becketwood and St. Andrew's Village communities.

She loved animals (especially cats), reading, textiles, symphony concerts, and the Minnesota Lynx. From planning her children's birthday parties to producing events at her senior co-op, she enjoyed using her theatrical talents to create an atmosphere of fun and excitement. Many looked forward to her legendary "poppy parties," which celebrated her favorite flowers when they were in bloom. Her children remember being surrounded by classical music and many beloved pets at home, and her encouragement to sing, play instruments, and pursue whatever sparked their interest. Enterprising, creative, and politically engaged, Patsy remained active and vibrant well into her 90s.

Patsy will be greatly missed by her children and their partners, five grandchildren, her extended family, and many dear friends who cherished her strength, intellect, sense of fun, and generous spirit.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Frances Grainger and Rose Honkala, her son-in-law Michael McPhee, and her former husband, Akira. She is survived by her children, Amy (Joe Parisi), Sara (Dan Gangai), and Ken (Becky Dill); her grandchildren Cameron, Isabel, Kenji, Malcolm, and Stella; her cousins, nieces, and nephews; and all those who were moved by her voice, strengthened by her convictions, and delighted by her presence.

Patsy was a caring woman with a giving spirit. In her passing, Patsy chose to help others by participating in the University of Minnesota's Anatomy Bequest Program, which supports high quality education for future health professionals and continued advancements in medical care through research.

Family and friends are invited to share memories and celebrate Patsy's life on Saturday, October 11 at 1:30 pm, at Becketwood Cooperative, 4300 W. River Pkwy., Minneapolis, MN 55406.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Minnesota Orchestra, Feline Rescue, or the Presbyterian Homes Foundation.