Patricia Anne Boekeloo

Patricia Dawson’s life began on January 28, 1924, in Kalamazoo, MI, where she grew up and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1942. On October 7, 1942, Patricia wed Hubert Boekeloo and started family life at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. When Hubert was deployed overseas, Patricia learned the rigor of an army wife and mother during WWII and then the Korean War until he returned home to Kalamazoo. She had several jobs while Hubert was away during both wars before Pat began her career of over 20 years as a legal secretary. She enjoyed spending her free time on her beloved piano, gardening, attending any family gathering and especially loved many picnics at Milham Park. Pat always had a crossword puzzle or book in her hand. She also enjoyed traveling and delighted in writing and receiving letters. Pat had a competitive spirit and loved any bridge, cribbage, dominoes or board game. There was a weekly domino game between Hube’s sister and brother-in-law that ran for over 30 years and she was always looking for a new partner (victim?) to teach the game! Pat was very active in her church at Lane Blvd United Methodist and when a friend from church suggested she try volunteering, that paved the road for the hospice work she treasured. At the age of 71, after caring for her mother for the previous 10 years, Pat found her niche. She became a stoic supporter of hospice care and began volunteering with Visiting Nurse Association’s hospice respite care program. She also played the piano every week at Upjohn Nursing Home’s Directors Hall for the “Friday Sing Along With Pat”. She was glad to stay busy with her volunteer work following Hubert’s death in 1999. She had a very compassionate manner and dearly loved the elderly. She won many awards and was recognized in the newspaper many times for her volunteer work. Pat’s greatest joy in life was her grandchildren. Her lap was always ready to rock, read or sing to anyone that needed her. The grandkids and great-grandkids also adored their precious Gram (also known as “Ba” and “GG”) and knew without a doubt she loved them “to pieces!” Preceded in death included her parents, Lawrence and Elaine (Anderson) Dawson; her husband, Hubert; two sisters, Mary Vander Meulen, and Dorothy Mejeur; and two brothers, Lawrence and Henry. Her family included four daughters: Sandra (Hunt-Dawson) of Kalamazoo and Annette (Sedlar) of Traverse City, both preceded her in death; Tricia (Joseph DeFalco) of Wheaton, Illinois and Julie (Don Edgerly) of Richland, MI. Pat had seven grandchildren, Erika Hunt (deceased), Kristin (Cortes), Michael (DeFalco), Lindsey (Heinig), Elizabeth (Sedlar), Luke and Hannah (Edgerly). She also had six great-grandchildren, Olivia, Madeline and Aiden Cortes, Oliver and Otis Heinig and Heron Sedlar, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. We are all very grateful for her constant source of support and encouragement as well as the periodic grammar correction or instruction to “Go look it up!” Her warmth, generosity, wry sense of humor and love will be missed by family, friends and neighbors who would spend hours in the backyard, relaxing by her gorgeous gardens. She touched the lives of many people and will be remembered as someone always ready to help anyone, friend or stranger, and had a smile that never faded, even in the last days of her life. A celebration of life will be held on a later date. The family is being assisted by Avink Funeral Home & Cremation Society, 5975 Lovers Ln., Portage, MI 49002. (269)344-5600. www.avinkcremation.com