1957
Patricia
2020
Patricia Gareau
February 20, 1957 — March 2, 2020
Patricia Ann Gareau, 63, passed away at 10:35am on March 2, 2020 at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria surrounded by her family after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer.
Pat was born on February 20, 1957 in Kewanee to Thomas and Pauline Wicker. They proceeded her in death. She married Brian Gareau on August 31, 1984 in Peoria.
She is survived by her loving husband, Brian, who walked with her side by side for more than 35 years. Her most proud legacy is her family - daughter Brandi (Jeff) Clark, son Benjamin (Stephanie) Gareau, and daughter Kelsey (Allen) Sepich; and her 6 grandchildren, Evan and Camden Clark, Reagan, Addison and Barrett Gareau, and Nolan Sepich. She left them a foundation of faith, love, forgiveness, and compassion.
Pat graduated from Wyoming High School in 1975 and immediately went on to cosmetology school and worked for 13 years as a hair dresser before taking a break from her career to be a stay-at-home mom. Later, she went on to complete an associate's degree from Lehigh Community College in PA and completed a multi-year course of study at Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL.
She went on to serve many congregations as a licensed local pastor in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church. Since her retirement she continued to serve as a volunteer member of the care team of Crossroads United Methodist Church visiting members in hospitals and nursing homes as well as visiting shut-ins in their homes. The key word being "service". Pat touched so many lives during difficult and painful times and was known for being kind, caring, compassionate and a source of calm to those she visited. That gift carried through all the way to the last days of her life as she continued to have a profound impact on all those who cared for her in the last 6 weeks of her life at the Hospice Home.
Pat enjoyed reading, knitting, sewing and in recent years had picked up quilting. She and Brian enjoyed both national and international travel especially over the last several years since their retirement. She loved the water and it was her dream to live where she could see water from her house. That dream became a reality in 2017 when Pat and Brian built a home with a pond right outside their back door. Some of her best times were on their many trips to Pensacola Beach with her children and grandchildren, who called her "Nana", and at Lake Redstone in WI with friends who became family.
Per her wishes, cremation rights have been accorded. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 6, 2020 at 5pm at Crossroads United Methodist Church in Washington. Visitation will be held 2 hours prior to the service, beginning at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, Pat has asked that memorials be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org) or to Crossroads United Methodist Church. Arrangements were handled through Weber-Hurd funeral home in Chillicothe.
1420 N. Main Street
Washington, IL
1420 N. Main Street
Washington, IL
Pat was born on February 20, 1957 in Kewanee to Thomas and Pauline Wicker. They proceeded her in death. She married Brian Gareau on August 31, 1984 in Peoria.
She is survived by her loving husband, Brian, who walked with her side by side for more than 35 years. Her most proud legacy is her family - daughter Brandi (Jeff) Clark, son Benjamin (Stephanie) Gareau, and daughter Kelsey (Allen) Sepich; and her 6 grandchildren, Evan and Camden Clark, Reagan, Addison and Barrett Gareau, and Nolan Sepich. She left them a foundation of faith, love, forgiveness, and compassion.
Pat graduated from Wyoming High School in 1975 and immediately went on to cosmetology school and worked for 13 years as a hair dresser before taking a break from her career to be a stay-at-home mom. Later, she went on to complete an associate's degree from Lehigh Community College in PA and completed a multi-year course of study at Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL.
She went on to serve many congregations as a licensed local pastor in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church. Since her retirement she continued to serve as a volunteer member of the care team of Crossroads United Methodist Church visiting members in hospitals and nursing homes as well as visiting shut-ins in their homes. The key word being "service". Pat touched so many lives during difficult and painful times and was known for being kind, caring, compassionate and a source of calm to those she visited. That gift carried through all the way to the last days of her life as she continued to have a profound impact on all those who cared for her in the last 6 weeks of her life at the Hospice Home.
Pat enjoyed reading, knitting, sewing and in recent years had picked up quilting. She and Brian enjoyed both national and international travel especially over the last several years since their retirement. She loved the water and it was her dream to live where she could see water from her house. That dream became a reality in 2017 when Pat and Brian built a home with a pond right outside their back door. Some of her best times were on their many trips to Pensacola Beach with her children and grandchildren, who called her "Nana", and at Lake Redstone in WI with friends who became family.
Per her wishes, cremation rights have been accorded. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 6, 2020 at 5pm at Crossroads United Methodist Church in Washington. Visitation will be held 2 hours prior to the service, beginning at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, Pat has asked that memorials be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org) or to Crossroads United Methodist Church. Arrangements were handled through Weber-Hurd funeral home in Chillicothe.
Visitation
MAR 6. 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (CST)
Crossroads United Methodist Church1420 N. Main Street
Washington, IL
Celebration of Life
MAR 6. 5:00 PM (CST)
Crossroads United Methodist Church1420 N. Main Street
Washington, IL
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Patricia Ann Gareau, please visit our floral store.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Patricia Gareau, please visit our flower store.
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