Patricia Thiel

Patricia "Pat" Thiel, 87 years old, of Hickory Hills, Illinois was sadly taken from us on July 11th, 2023.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Fredrick Thiel. She is survived by her sons: Fredrick Thiel, Michael (Rita) Thiel, Daniel (Julia) Thiel, and David Thiel. Her grandchildren: Anna (Joe) Gardner, Jerod Thiel, Alexandra Thiel, Erika Thiel, Gina Thiel, and Mia Thiel. Her great- grandchildren: Paisley Thiel, Kaesey Thiel, Elisabeth Gardner and Owen Gardner. As well as her three sisters: Joan, Alice, and Kathy.

This Hurts More Than I Thought It Would

Twenty three years later,

I am again reminded

what it feels like

to lose my own

flesh and blood.

You are a headstone

that now reads two names

instead of one.

You are hand-made halloween costumes,

both baby and adult size,

so my mother and little sister could match.

You are extra cooking grease on tater tots

because we all know they taste better

the unhealthier way.

You are colorful wool socks

on my cold feet

in the winter.

You are quilts that cover me

when it rains outside.

You are the bedroom door

that you will never open again

for the dogs scratching to enter.

Do they understand

you are never coming back? I don't even know

if I understand

quite yet.

Intricately made up of both sharp

and smooth pieces,

you were a stained glass window

in the center of the home

where you and Grandpa

raised my father.

I hope you knew that I did,

I do,

and I always will

love you.

A. E. Thiel