Patricia Louise Bigelow

My Mother: Patricia Louise Bigelow

Patricia Louise Bigelow was born on October 2nd, 1928, in Atchison, Kansas to 22-year-old Chester Frederick Bigelow and 18-year-old Lois Madge Vanway Bigelow. Patricia Louise had beautiful red hair, it is said she inherited it from her German grandfather William Clarence Bigelow. Patti would grow up around several loving uncles and aunts and cousins. She was the apple of her father's eye. His favorite advice to her in her teenage years, when boys began to take notice, "if they're ever mean to you, kick them in the knee and call for me". To the best of my knowledge, she never had to use this advice. Although Patti was a fun loving, happy go lucky young lady, she felt something was missing. She was often a lonely, only child, and she dreamed that one day she would be the mother of a family with lots of kids to love. Then shortly before turning 17, Patti would meet the 3rd son of Irish Catholic immigrants, 21-year-old Bernard James Beattie. Jim had just returned from the war in Europe, completing 35 B17 bombing missions over Germany, helping to stop the spread of fascism. He was handsome, chiseled, proud, and a gentleman. The two would date for 2 years, break up for a year, then come together and get married in June of 1949. Patti converted to Catholicism, and it seemed her dream of marrying and having a large family was about to come true. But alas, she would learn that although loving an Irishman would be full of excitement, more than a little tragedy would accompany them.

Her first little boy Timothy Michael arrived in April of 1950, followed by Mark James in November of 1951, and their crowning achievement Patrick Dennis in December of 1953. Patrick would be the only one to inherit Patty's red hair, which always seemed appropriate to me. Her dream of having a baby girl finally came true in June of 1956 when Mary Sue burst onto the scene. Everything was going as planned for these two lovebirds; their unique love story was marching to the beautiful beat of eight little feet running around their house. Then in August of 1960, their 2nd beautiful little girl Janelle Marie arrived. Sadly, mother and daughter would not come home together, little Janelle passed just before Patty's 32nd birthday. The lovebirds were tested, but the steady love of Patricia and Jim did not waive. The smiles of Shawn Charles arrived in March of 1964, and their last son, Thomas Gerard followed in June of 1966.

In July of 1966, Jim and Patti decided to leave their hometown of Atchison Kansas, and with all 6 kids in tow, they started a promising life in Clinton Missouri. Together the family faced this unfamiliar community with a new baby, new home, new job, new schools, new friends, and new challenges. Then in the early morning hours of July 4th, 1968, Shawn Charles passed away after many months of being treated for a rare blood disorder. The whole family was devastated, and Patti had lost her 2nd baby in 8 years. Her heart hurt like only a mother's can when losing a child. Still recovering, only 4 years later, on December 9th, 1972, Mark James would lose his life on the southeast corner of the Clinton Square while attempting to save people trapped in a devastating fire.

My mother would continue to carry all her love and pain in her heart for another 50+ years. She answered the bell every day, but not without a struggle. She leaned on her natural toughness and faith and unfailing love for her family to navigate her life and the lives of her children after facing so many tragedies. When her devoted husband died in 2012, she contemplated a life alone for the first time in 63 years. She would learn to live with all those memories, both happy and tragic, and make her peace with them all alone. She was afraid the only, lonely child of her youth would return. Instead, her longtime friends in Clinton, her neighbors Rick and Linda Jones, her daughter Mary Sue, and her first-born Timothy Michael, who called her nearly every morning since 2012, provided Patti with the comfort and companionship she craved. And by this time, she was more than Mom to her children, Patti was Nana to eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Her arms and her heart were full of the love of children. You were a living lesson of perseverance and devotion. I am so proud of you Mom and love you very much. Now you can Rest in Peace.