Patsy Long

Patsy Long

Patsy Miriam "Pat" Long nee, Patch, 87, born in Washington Park, Ill., on May 25, 1927, passed from this life to the next on Monday, June 9, 2014, at Friendship Manor Nursing Home in Nashville, Ill. She had lived there for the past two years after having resided in Troy for 45 years. Pat was a graduate of the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Ill., where she earned a B.S. in Journalism; Portland State University, where she earned a B.S. in English Education; and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Ill., where she earned an M.A. in English. She taught English at East Side High in East St. Louis, Ill., Central High in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and McKendree College in Lebanon, Ill. For over 25 years, into her 70s she worked as a homebound tutor for the Triad School District, teaching every subject to students from all grade levels. She found her calling in this later position, encouraging and enabling over 200 students to earn their high school diplomas. She developed lifelong friendships with many of her students and their families and was rarely able to go anywhere in Troy without running into one of her former pupils. Pat and her husband Pete helped found the Troy Christian Church, and she was an active member there for many years. She loved to cook, and she canned much of the produce Pete raised in their enormous backyard garden. Worshiping, singing, storytelling and writing were some of her favorite activities. She loved watching baseball and was a lifelong Cardinals fan. Each year, she looked forward to the annual family vacation to Finlayson, Minn., to visit relatives and go fishing. She served as a loving caregiver to family members with serious illnesses for over 30 years. She enjoyed her children and

grandchildren immensely, and kept Christ always at the center of her life.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 60 years, Norbert "Pete" Long; her parents, Howard F. and Kate K., nee Boswell, Patch; and her brother, Joe.

She is survived by her

children, John, Cynthia, Mark, and Mary Kate; her grandchildren, Natalie and Danielle Long, Abe and Ben Harper, Bernie, Jakob, Sam, Miriam, and Grace Arend; and her great-grandchildren, Reilly and Connor Harper.

The family has requested that memorials go to the activity fund for the residents of the Alzheimer's unit at Friendship Manor, Nashville, Ill. However, the nursing home has advised the family that they do not have a bank account specifically for the activity fund, and cannot redirect funds received into the general operating account. Nancy McClurken, the Director of the Alzheimer's unit, as well as Patsy's friend and caregiver,

has asked checks be made to Patsy's daughter and power of attorney, Cynthia Harper. Cynthia, who volunteers organizing activities and purchasing materials for projects, will serve jointly with Nancy

McClurken in administering the use of the memorials on behalf of the residents. Please make a notation on the memo line of the check that the gift is to go to the Alzheimer's Activity Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.laughlinfh.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. , Friday, June 13, 2014, and from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2014, at the Richeson Funeral Home in Troy, Ill.

Funeral: Funeral Service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 14, 2014, immediately after the visitation. Interment in Frieden's Cemetery in Troy, Ill.

RICHESON FUNERAL

HOME, Troy, Ill.