patroness

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

patroness
    n 1: a woman who is a patron or the wife of a patron [syn:
         {patroness}, {patronne}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Patroness \Pa"tron*ess\, n. [Cf. F. patronnesse.]
   A female patron or helper. --Spenser.
   [1913 Webster]

         Night, best patroness of grief.          --Milton.
   [1913 Webster]