Patricia Lynn McGrath went home to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 4:20pm. She passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family. Pat was born on November 13, 1951 in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents Roy Earl Moore and Margaret Frances Moore (Edwards) preceded her in death along with her brother, Bob, and loving husband of 43 years, Ronald James McGrath. She is survived by her sister’s Barbara, Mary, Carol, Neva and Linda, brother Tom, daughter’s Kim, Carey and Kelly, her son, Robert, Son-in-law’s Casey and Chris, her grandchildren Deanna, Maria, Joey, Cody, Crystal, Courtney, Ashley, Kailey, their families and great-grandchildren.
Growing up, she agreed with her sister Mary, “We did not have much, but we had each other.” With 7 siblings, she told of many wonderful and hard times. She stated that “you ate what was in front of you or you did not eat, and you never got seconds”. Maybe that is why she always made so much food for all of us. She would also cook a second meal for Ron, since he was a very picky eater.
She met and married the love of her life, Ron, at the age of 19. They met in a bar while she was being stood up for a date. Just months later they married at the courthouse in Cook County, Illinois. They endured many hardships in the early years of marriage, including the birth of their special needs daughter, Kelly. In 1980, to focus on their marriage and start over, they moved to Westminster, Colorado.
As the medical needs of their daughter, Kelly, increased, they began the long fight to get her continuity of care at home. Being entrepreneurial at heart, Ron and Pat, decided to open a home health agency, Caring Home Health Services, to care for Kelly and other special needs and critically ill children. These years proved difficult yet rewarding. While caring for Kelly and the many twists and turns with her medical struggles, and running the home health agency, Ron and Pat also served others through charities, support groups and gifts. Carey states, “One of my fondest memories as a child was seeing my parent’s best friends, Ray and Bev Milligan, dress up as Santa & Mrs. Clause while my parent’s joined them dressed as elves. They then would load up many gifts in their cars and visit a lot of families with sick children so they could have a Christmas”.
In 1999, with all her medical experience with Kelly and the home health agency, she decided to continue to give and care for others by becoming a Certified Nurses Assistant. She stated, “My personal experience as a mother of a medically involved special needs child over the last 22 years has taught me to respect the medical profession and the rights of the patient and their family. It has given me a desire to help others on a professional level and expand my career in the medical profession.” She was able to do this on a professional level for a short time until she hurt her back while trying to prevent someone from falling. Even after, she continued to help others navigate their health journey through her knowledge and support.
Through the years, Pat, had many of her own struggles with her health. In 1991, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. In 2006, she suffered a stroke in which the doctors also discovered she had brain aneurysms. By 2009, the brain aneurysms were treated with stents and coils. Later, she had Tarlov cysts removed from her spinal cord which led to chronic back pain the rest of her life. Pat suffered what seemed to be one health problem after another. Yet, she always pressed on and was determined to be strong and there for her family and others.
On February 25, 2004, Pat recommitted her life to follow God and accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior in Christian baptism. She grew up Catholic and longed to know God more through a personal relationship with Him. After Ron passed away, she continually listened to praise music so she would be reminded of God’s comfort and promises. During Covid and while her health was in decline, she watched sermons from a local church. She recently stated, “I know that God is watching over me, helping me through each day! I know that I have a loving family that also wants to see me through every day”.
Pat’s love for her family and others will always be remembered by so many. She loved to be there for them by listening and offering advice. She always gave a helping hand with food and loved to treat people to meals out. She gave many gifts on birthdays and Christmas’ because she wanted them to have what she didn’t. She was so proud of her grandchildren and loved all the great grandbabies who always made her smile. She will always be remembered in our hearts…until we meet again in the presence of our loving savior, Jesus Christ.
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