04/16/2026
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the passing of one of the most extraordinary people to ever grace us with her presence, Miss Patty Connors.
After a courageous battle with her health, Patty is finally at peace. This is an unimaginable loss for our team, and it already feels strange knowing we’ll be heading into this next season without our favorite little merch lady.
We know so many of you came to know and love Patty over the years...whether at ScareAtorium, 13th Floor, Fear, or all three. She’s been with us so long we used to joke that she came with the building! Through every change over this last decade, she remained a constant behind the merch counter, always ready with a smile, a sarcastic comment, or a laugh. She pretended to not understand why so many of you would wait specifically in her line (as if we all didn't know her celebrity status here, that was just who she was).
To us, Patty was so much more than a coworker. She was an actual mother and grandmother to people on staff, but became an adopted mom and grandma to many of us. She was a steady presence who could shift the mood of any room the moment she walked in. She just had a way of making you feel better whether it was through a joke, a little tough love, or, most simply, by being herself. Even toward the end, when her body began to fail her, her spirit never faded. Though she couldn’t speak, we could still read her loud and clear through that signature smile and eye roll (which is how we communicated a lot of the time anyway)!
On a personal note, Patty was one of the first people to welcome me (Jess) when I started as an actor at ScareAtorium in 2017, at a time when I wasn't just starting over at a new haunt, but when Nick and I were totally new to Columbus and finding our footing. She quickly became a constant in our lives...someone who stood by us through every chapter. From my actor days to being on the team who built 13th Floor to becoming a co-owner of Fear Columbus, she showed up for all of it, no questions asked. It's hard to imagine moving forward without someone who's been here longer than most of us on staff today.
Honestly, she’d probably be giving us a hard time right now if she could see the fuss we're all making over this. So instead of sitting in that, we want to honor her for who she was: unforgettable, one of a kind, and deeply loved. We'll continue to carry her with us in everything we do. There will always be pieces of Patty woven into this place, because the truth is, we simply cannot do this without her.
We’re sending all our love to her family, friends, and community, especially her granddaughter Maggie and daughter Erin, who are part of our Fear team. Our hearts are also with those who have worked with Patty at ScareAtorium and 13th Floor. To know her was to love her, and we know you're feeling this just as much as we are.
Thank you all for the love you’ve shown over the years. Patty meant so much to so many of you and (even if she said it with a little sarcasm) we know she felt the same.
If you feel inclined, we would love for you to share any memories you have about Patty. We’ll be reading them together as a team and passing them along to her loved ones. Details for her visitation can be found below. 🖤
https://www.newcomercolumbus.com/obituaries/patty-connors?fbclid=IwY2xjawRN_RJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeBZbaZccElbgh31ndgE3JtmPH1gb4_NDtM978cS3ho6pQA07d58j7ZCu78S0_aem_71VOgVknbWB9AvJb9K7TmQ
