Patricia Ann Leonard

Patricia Ann Leonard was born in Evergreen Park, Illinois on December 4, 1958. She was the eldest child of Lucille and Thomas Leonard. Patti (her Chicago nickname), was a wonderful big sister to Michael and Tommy. Patti grew up in the southwest side of Chicago, she attended St. Thomas More Elementary School. At an early age she was an organizer and a planner. In Kindergarten, she informed her Mother that she needed to bring cookies and straws to class every day so everyone could have a snack and of course her classmates needed straws to drink their milk! Later, she begged her mother to become a troop leader, and Patti formed a Girl Scout Troop for her friends. Patti made lasting friendships and continued to meet with her Tommy More friends during her visits back to Chicago.

Patti had many talents. Her family lived near Hayes Park. At the park she learned to sew a dress. Patti's Dad bought her a sewing machine and she made a skirt for her Mom. She learned to crochet, and when she was asked to be a godmother at age ten, she made a blanket for her god child. Patti was a natural mother and loved to take care of people. Did you know that Patti could twirl a baton and tap dance?

Patti attended Queen of Peace High school, an all-girl Catholic School. She approached every encounter as a possibility of friendship. Friendship was very important to Patti and she took the time to make friends. Patti showed people they mattered, and her peers chose her as president of her high school class. Patti remained close friends with her "Queen of Peace girls." Who's Who of America named Patti as one of the top 100 high school graduates. Her gift of leadership was recognized and several colleges offered her leadership scholarships.

Patti chose St. Mary's University, in Winona, Minnesota. She brought her warm personality to Minnesota and won the hearts of many. Once again Patti involved herself in student activities. She was the Chairperson of the Student Activities Committee her junior and senior years. She arranged for entertainment ranging from comedians, authors, guest speakers and bands to appear at SMC. Patti was elected by her classmates as 1981 Redwoman of the Year. Redwoman of the year recognized her leadership skills and community service during her four years at St. Mary's. Patti continued on to Michigan State University and received a Masters Degree in Higher Education Administration.

Her organization and gregarious personality was a perfect combination for the career she chose as a College Administrator. Patti worked for several colleges including: Rollins College-Winter Park, Florida, and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Patti happily returned to Chicago, when she accepted a position as an administrator at her alma mater Queen of Peace High school.

Patti met her future husband Jay in 1991 through friends at North Avenue beach in Chicago. The group was talking about what they were doing the next weekend and Patti jokingly said "I have to chaperon a high school prom does anyone what to go?" Jay immediately said he would go. One of her friends told Patti that she had a dream that Jay was the guy she was going to marry, Patti said no way, "I don't even like that guy!" Patti made several attempts to get out of taking Jay, but they ended up going on their first date as chaperones to a high school prom. From that point on they started dating.

Jay loved that she knew everyone. He said, "we couldn't go anywhere without running in to someone Patti knew." After about 6 months of dating, Patti took a position working for her cousin in Los Angeles, this was when Patti and Jay's long distance relationship started. They missed each other and on a trip out to California, Jay asked Patti to marry him while walking at Venice Beach. Although she tentatively accepted Jay's marriage proposal, she said that he had to ask her father for her hand, in response Jay said that she had to ask his father for his hand, and of course added the wedding had to be in Vegas officiated by Elvis. Fortunately, they both received their parents blessing and Patti eventually moved back to Chicago.

Back in Chicago, she went back to work at Queen of Peace as the Director of Institutional Advancement, Recruitment and Development. Patti and Jay started planning their wedding. They met with Patti's parish priest to discuss attending precana, a required course couples must complete prior to marriage. To Patti's dismay, her priest asked to speak with Jay in private. Patti imagined the worst. Amazingly, when Jay was finished with his conference he told Patti grinning, "Hey, we clepped out of precana!" Indeed, Patti's priest prophetically determined that Patti and Jay were perfect for each other and their love and commitment would result in a long harmonious partnership.

Ever the planner and organizer, Patti eventually took over all of the arrangements and gave Jay only two jobs, get the band and rent your tux. The wedding list was unbelievable! Remember Patti knew everyone, she had to cut her list to only 500 of her closest friends, Jay's side was about 50. Of course the wedding had some challenges, the priest was double booked, the photographer was double booked, the bridesmaids dresses came in as miniskirts, the band wasn't available, the air conditioning went out at Patti's house as she prepared for her wedding on a hot summer day on June 26, 1993. Through it all the wedding turned out to be perfect and beautiful. There were wedding crashers as more people showed up than were invited, the priest said, he had never seen so many people at a wedding! The party lasted all night, it was a joyous start for Patti and Jay's 20 years of married life together.

After living in several areas of Chicago, Patti and Jay decided it was time to start settling down, they bought a 3 bedroom town home in the South Loop. Patti and Jay thought it was time to start a family, but unfortunately that never happened. After two years, Jay was offered a position in Seattle. Patti and Jay moved to Seattle in 2001. They rented a townhouse in Belltown which over looked the sound. Patti so loved the water so having a 30 foot deck over looking the water was prefect for her. During that first year in Seattle, Jay traveled a lot, so Patti was left to fend for herself. Patti being Patti introduced herself to everyone, Jay would come back from trips and say, "How do you know everyone at the bars?" Eventually they thought they should buy a home, they looked at over 300 homes and ended up settling on the first home they saw with a full stand up basement in

West Seattle.

Patti had difficultly finding work in a downturned economy and was often confronted with statements of being "too over qualified" or "you should be my boss." She ended up deciding to go back to school. She was accepted at Seattle University in a duel Master program for Psychology and Counseling. At the same time, Patti and Jay decided they should start the process of looking into adoption. They decided on an international adoption from Guatemala. Nelson was born and a picture was sent to Patti and Jay. They instantly fell in love with their son. There was a lot of trouble working through the adoption process but after 14 months they brought home their son in March 2007.

Patti and Jay's life changed from that moment, they focused their attention on giving their son every opportunity to have a wonderful and beautiful life. Patti loved her new son so very much and was always concerned for Nelson. She wanted to make sure that he was getting everything possible, she wanted to give him everything he needed. Patti always wanted to do more for Nelson and she immersed herself in Nelson's schooling. She was a constant volunteer at Nelson's Preschool, Kindergarten at Holy Rosary, and until recently, First grade at Alki Elementary. Patti loved being a mother and she stayed at home trying to do everything. She was continuously giving to everyone she came in contact with; Patti's first thought was always about everyone else, before herself.

On October 2012 suffering from an ear infection and sinus infection, Patti asked the doctor for an x-ray of her chest. In December they found an 8 millimeter mass on her chest. The doctor didn't believe that it was anything, but she pushed for them to do a CT scan. She was told that she likely had cancer, but this needed confirmation. The family had a vacation planned to Chicago and were assured that a couple of day would not make a difference, so they went on their last vacation back to their beloved Chicago. Upon their return to Seattle, Patti and Jay learned that Patti had lung cancer. On the early morning of March 27, 2013, Patti passed away. It was much too soon for her family, friends, and community. We love you Patti.