Guadagno leaves campaign trail after death of her mother

Kim Guadagno, center, and her mother Pat McFadden, right, from a family photo via facebook

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno’s mother, Mary Patricia (Pat) Blevens McFadden, died in Virginia Beach this morning. Guadagno has cancelled her official and campaign schedule and joined her family in Virginia, according to an announcement from the Department of State.

“Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, has joined her family in Virginia Beach, due to the passing this morning of her mother Mary Patricia (Pat) Blevens McFadden. Please include them in your prayers during this incredibly difficult time,” said Suzanne Schwab, spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of State.

During her campaign kickoff for the NJ GOP gubernatorial nomination in Keansburg in January, Guadagno described her mother cutting up credit cards and holding her family of five children together after her husband Charles lost a job. The McFadden family recovered from those hard times. Charles went on to a very successful career in the TV broadcasting industry and was a respected philanthropist who made generous donations to Regis High School, Creighton University, Wesleyan Medical College, Holy Family Church, Doctors Without Borders, and the Eastern Virginia Medical School among others, according to his 2012 obituary.

Charles and Pat McFadden endowed a scholarship for Creighton University undergraduate students with mobile, visibility and hearing impairments in 1995.

Guadagno’s sister, Tracy McFadden Butterhof wrote on facebook that her mother “sacrificed everything, I mean everything to support her husband and raise five amazing children.” Butterhof said that her mother taught her daughters to get letters after their names before getting them before their names.

Guadagno’s campaign is confident that their momentum and strong ground game will carry them through the week during their candidate’s absence.

“Patty” McFadden’s obituary can be found here.