Patricia Ann Schwab

Pat Schwab passed away on February 11, 2015, at the age of eighty-six. She deserves this eternal rest after more than sixty years of shepherding one husband, six children and twelve grandchildren. Pat was born in July of 1928 in St. Ignatius, Montana on the Flathead Indian Reservation, the last of eight children born to Joe and Molly Owens. She started school in St. Ignatius, but because the family preferred she have a Catholic education they moved to Missoula when she was still in elementary school.

Pat worked her way through the University of Montana in Missoula and graduated in 1950 with a degree in Sociology. She was an Alpha Phi and the sweetheart of a Sigma Chi named John Schwab. He was a Navy veteran who was studying Business Administration. They were married on June 7, 1950, the day after her graduation. The newlyweds first lived in Kellogg, Idaho where John was employed by the J.C. Penney Company. As her husband received promotions and eventually changed jobs, the young family moved to Moscow, Idaho; Colville, Washington; Salmon, Idaho; Rupert, Idaho; and finally landed for good in Portland, Oregon. Along the way, Pat and John had six children over a stretch of sixteen years.

In Portland, Pat was a homemaker and worked part time in John’s State Farm Insurance agency. She was active in her parish and the community. She was a tour guide for many years with Urban Tours, escorting thousands of sixth graders on historical and architectural tours of downtown Portland. Pat and John loved to follow the sporting events of their active children, made annual trips to visit family in Montana, and spent time every summer in Rockaway Beach. Highlights in later years included a trip to visit Schwab relatives in Germany, and a cross country ramble to visit Pat’s relatives in the upper Midwest and enjoy fall colors in New England.

Pat and John were married for 60 years before he passed away in 2010. Pat leaves behind six children, John III (Katie), Steven (Susan), David (Diana), Barbara (Clint) Benson, Michael, and Molly (Frank) Fricano. Pat was a loving and supportive grandmother to her twelve grandchildren; Brian and Peter Schwab, Owen, Jarod, and Alex Schwab, Jessica, Rachael, and Allison Benson, Mikaela and Julia Schwab, and Patrick and Natalie Fricano.

Pat was extremely proud that she graduated from college, having made John cool his heels until after her graduation. She made sure that all six of her children graduated from college, believing with all her heart that education and faith in the Lord were the keys to raising a successful family.

Please join the family for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Portland. There will be a Recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, 2015 at Zeller Chapel of the Roses. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Central Catholic High School in Pat’s memory.