Patricia A. Metsch OBITUARY

Patricia A. Metsch OBITUARY

Patricia A. Metsch (nee Kricek), known as Pat, did a lot of living in her nearly 90 years. Pat died early July 14 at Hinsdale Hospital after a battle with cancer. She was born on Sept. 5, 1936, in Chicago, the first of three children for her parents, Hank and Louise Kricek. While cancer claimed her life, it did not douse her spirit or sense of humor. Earlier this year, when scheduling a dentist appointment six months in advance, she told the staff, “You’ll be here, I don’t know if I will.” On July 5 in the hospital, she asked her son to buy a hot fudge sundae for her the next day. “Everything on it,” Pat said. “Even nuts.” Reminded that nuts were not in her diet for health reasons, Pat laughed. Throwing caution to the wind, she replied, “Look at me. Why not?” Pat had strong faith in God. She was devoted to and loved her family and many friends, keeping in touch over the decades with calls or Christmas cards. Pat and her husband of 69 years, George, 90, met at a picnic in Lyons in September 1953, during her senior year of high school. They married in October 1956 at St. Hugh Catholic Church in Lyons. They lived in Chicago with relatives after their marriage before buying a yellow-brick bungalow on 41st Court in Lyons in 1961. George went to work as a Riverside Police officer and later was a sergeant. They raised two children and lived in Lyons until the early 1990s when they retired to Clearwater, FL.

They loved the warm weather, bingo and long walks on the beach. But going from two grandchildren to six in a few years brought them back to the Chicago area. After a few years in Lombard, they bought a condo in Darien and lived there 20 years before moving to Sunrise of Willowbrook in early 2025, making new friends. Growing up, Pat lived in Chicago with her parents and younger sister Mary. In 1949, her parents moved the girls to a house in Lyons. She attended and graduated from St. Hugh Grammar School. She graduated from Morton High School in Cicero in 1954. Pat had fond memories of joining her father at local golf courses when she was a girl, watching him tee off with his brother, Charlie. Hank often took her to Wrigley Field. Andy Pafko was Pat’s favorite Cub. She was quite happy when the Cubs finally won the World Series in 2016. Years of marriage to a White Sox fan won her over. Pat brought a broom to her son’s house to watch Game Four of the 2005 World Series, a game the Sox won to sweep Houston. Pat enjoyed watching Walter Payton play football. She proudly wore a Jim McMahon sweatshirt when the Bears ruled the NFL. Before becoming a mom, Pat worked as a secretary at Prudential, and at Sears’ headquarters in Chicago, where George – before his police career – also worked. There, they met many longtime friends. When the kids were teens, she worked at Lyons Savings & Loan. Here are some of Pat’s many memorable moments: Five or six cruises; vacations to Las Vegas, London and Hawaii; Thursday bingo nights at St Hugh’s; being a Girl Scout troop leader; sipping apricot stone sours while playing cards with their friends; and watching Johnny Carson his entire career. Paul McCartney was her first rock concert in 1989 when she was 53. She later saw Cher in concert. Her favorite singer? Elvis Presley. Never saw him, loved his music. Back in the ‘70s, each morning Pat would share her coffee and cream with Cinders, a jet-black cockapoo who did not need caffeine. Pat savored chocolate malts, hot fudge sundaes or butter pecan ice cream, yes, even on bone-chilling winter nights.

Pat is survived by her husband, George Metsch; son Steven (Ruth) Metsch; daughter Linda (George) Hovorka; grandchildren Kelly Hickey, Kyle Hickey, Craig Metsch, Elizabeth Becker, Natalie Metsch and Jack Becker; brother Henry Kricek; sister Mary Ballarini; niece Lisa (Jim) Festle; nephew David (Megan) Ballarini; niece Brenda (Dennis) Vocu; and many relatives and friends. Visitation will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. July 23 at the Modell Funeral Home, 7710 S. Cass Ave. Darien. In honor of Pat, a Funeral Mass will follow at 10 a.m. July 23 at Our Lady of Peace Church, 701 Plainfield Road, Darien. Interment will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in her name be made to UChicago Medicine AdventHealth St. Thomas Hospice or your favorite charity.

For info www.modelldarien.com or #630-852-3595.