Patricia Gullery

Patricia (McCarty) Gullery, age 77, died peacefully at home surrounded by family love. Pat is survived by her husband Jim and three children Jack, Colleen (Tim), Dan and grandchildren Eleanor (Nellie) and Eamonn. Pat was a baby boomer, born in Chicago on June 18, 1947. Her roots were at St. Benedict’s where she graduated from the parish grammar school and St. Benedict’s High School. After graduation she worked as office manager for several car dealerships and eventually retired from a position at a local tax and accounting firm.

Pat was an avid bowler and met her husband Jim at Holiday Bowl. They dated for several years and recently celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary. Pat loved to travel and Jim was a kindred spirit. Some of their memorable trips took them to Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Hawaii and Ireland.

Later as a busy parent and homemaker, Pat put family first, always making time for her husband, her children and more recently her grandchildren. She embraced being “Grandma Pat” to Nellie and Eamonn. She was active in the Parents Club at St. Tars when the kids were in school there, planning and working the fun fairs, intramurals, chaperoning field trips for the kids and volunteering for weekly bingo nights.

Pat looked forward to road trips, especially to our beautiful national parks – Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Denali and her beloved Glacier where she and Jim shared their love of camping and the outdoors with their children from the time Jack, their first born, was one year old.

She was an adventurer and loved roller coasters, horseback riding and even went zip lining earlier this year. She and her sister owned Silver Pattern, a quarter horse. They enjoyed trail riding in the forest preserves, horse shows and jumping competitions for many years.

Pat took an interest in genealogy and enjoyed being the family historian. This required online research, visiting cemeteries, travelling down to a small county in western Kentucky and to the National Archives in Washington DC. She was successfully able to document family records dating back to the 1700’s.

Pat was always kind, humble and ready to lend a hand, but never sought the spotlight. However, her love of music and dancing brought her great joy AND led to appearances on Channel 9’s Ray Rayner Show with a wooden shoe dance troupe and years later to a pre-show segment at a Chicago Bulls game with some of her devoted line dancing crew.

Parents teach their children many things. Pat was a model of strength, grace, perseverance, love and patience.

Pat’s message to her children, grandchildren and to you is “Always take the trip”.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The American Cancer Society at Donate.Cancer.org