Our History

Garrett Thomas Carroll aka GT Pat and his wife Gwen Carroll purchased Pajaro Valley Memorial Park back in 1952. Pat ran and operated the memorial park for 25 years. He went on to manage a cemetery up north and at this point his wife Gwen became very involved and took over operating PVMP. GT Pat passed away in 1987 and Gwen ran and operated Pajaro Valley Memorial Park by herself from then on. She worked until 2004 and passed away in 2006.

Gwen was a very remarkable hard-working woman. Her mother passed at a young age, she had no siblings, so she learned how to take care of herself and gained a passion for helping others along the way. Not only did she have dual careers of work and a housewife, but she was also helping almost every community cause imaginable. “People remind me often that I wasn’t getting paid” well, she says, she was paid. “Motherhood and the home paid in love; business paid in money; and just helping where help was needed paid in satisfaction.”

GT Pat and Gwen had 3 beautiful children, Gary, Panette and Patrick. Gary and Panette grew up and were off thriving in their personal careers and Patrick stayed around as his mother’s sidekick at the memorial park. Patrick attended Cabrillo college for a small duration and decided helping the family business is what he wanted to do. Patrick was the youngest licensed cemetery broker in the state of Ca in 1983.

In 2001, Gwen was reaching her mid 80’s and was officially turning the reigns over to Patrick and his brother Gary. For the next 5 years Patrick and Gary ran the cemetery together. In 2006 Gwen passed away and Patrick and his sister Panette decided to keep the cemetery within the family to pass through more generations. In 2012, Patrick, his wife Debbie and sister Panette acquired Ave Maria Memorial Chapel and between them and their children both businesses are thriving.

Patrick always says, “The day we get used to this is the day we quit.” And Gwen said “ I can’t say it’s a happy business but one thing is, you feel you are helping people. It makes me feel good.”

GT Pat and Gwen set the example to live a life of giving and helping others to find true satisfaction and happiness. Their way of life trickled down through the family, Pajaro Valley Memorial Park and Ave Maria Memorial Chapel are ran with compassion, love and care.

If you would like to know more about how we serve the families of the Pajaro Valley area, please visit our location or contact us at the number provided.

Pajaro Valley Memorial Park

127 Hecker Pass Rd.

Watsonville Ca 95076

831-724-7524