Patricia Conway

Although she had a life filled with numerous memories and experiences, there was nothing that was of greater importance to Patricia Conway than being a mother and a grandmother. She was very much the matriarch of her family, and it was easy to see that her children and grandchildren were her greatest source of pride and joy. Petite in stature, Pat could be feisty when needed, especially when it came to protecting her children and grandchildren. She created a lifetime of precious moments shared with the ones she loved that will be priceless memories for years to come.

The early 1940s were very much defined by WWII. Although the war officially began in 1939, it was not until the attack on Pearl Harbor that America engaged in the fight. Rationing on common goods became a way of life back home, and manufacturing focused on supporting the war effort. It was just a short time before the war’s end that a young couple from Watervliet, Michigan, was blessed with the birth of their baby girl on June 29, 1945. Patricia Jo was the youngest of four children born to her parents, Edward and Lillian (Oelhauffen) Carmody, and she was raised on a centennial farm alongside her siblings, Mary Lou, Carol, and Edward. Her father was a gentleman farmer while her mother was a teacher for Watervliet Schools.

From the time she was a young girl, Pat was a bustle of activity. Living on the farm meant that she helped with some of the duties, including tending to the blueberry crop, but she hated having anything to do with the chickens. Pat liked to folk dance at the Berrien County Fair. She attended a local elementary school and her high school years found her at Benton Harbor St. John's where she was a good student and went on to graduate in 1963. Pat continued her education at Lake Michigan College.

Pat moved to Kalamazoo and was ready for all that life had in store. She spent some time working at Kalamazoo College and later in the Office of Married Housing at Western Michigan University. This was also an exciting time in Pat’s life since it was through mutual friends that she met the man of her dreams. His name was Daniel Conway, and he worked at KVP Paper at the time. Sparks flew right from the start, and they began a dating relationship that lasted one-and-a-half years. Deeply in love, Pat and Dan were married on April 19, 1969 at St. Joseph Church in Watervliet.

After a honeymoon in Miami, the newlyweds returned to the Kalamazoo area where Pat worked part-time for the Upjohn Company while Dan continued to work and was in the Marine Corps Reserves. Pat later left the workforce to focus her attention at home. Together she and Dan were blessed to welcome Scott, Kelly, Christopher, and Brian into their hearts and home. Pat fully immersed herself into her role as a mother and was more than busy keeping up with all of her kids as they were each in different sports and activities. She raised her children to embrace the same Catholic faith that was engraved upon her heart as a young girl. Pat ran a tight ship at home and made sure that her kids toed the line. Sundays usually found them out for dinner after church, and since she always had a cup of coffee at the end of the meal, her kids knew they had better behave until she was done! In 1976, they moved into their first home in Oshtemo and later moved to their current home a few streets away in 1982, where she and her husband remained for the rest of her life. Pat’s family appreciated her freshly baked cookies and her pot roast were always a family favorite. She even spoiled the kids by bringing food to them and their friends in college. Additionally, Pat was a wonderful host for numerous holiday celebrations. They always had a dog or cat around the house, and she enjoyed tending to the flowers in the yard.

Caring for her family was always first and foremost in Pat’s life, but she did enjoy pursuing some of the things she loved. Once her children were a bit older she got her real estate license, but she never really got into the pace of the industry. She loved to golf and was on a women's league while her husband, who also loves to golf, was in the men’s league. For several years, they have been members at Lake Doster Golf Club in Plainwell. Pat was into crafts and particularly enjoyed knitting and crocheting. She enjoyed both classic and new country music and liked a good steak that Dan cooked on the grill. Of course, everything was especially good when accompanied by a glass of white zinfandel.

Later in life, Pat continued to embrace everything that came her way. She was filled with unspeakable joy to become a grandmother, and it was easy to see that she lived to dote over her grandchildren. “Mimi Pat” to her grandchildren, she had a special and individual connection with each of her grandchildren and treasured them in their own unique way. Pat just loved playing with them and often took them places like the park, the zoo, and out for some shopping. She also made sure that they had more than enough coloring books, crayons, and markers. When each grandchild was born, it did not take Pat long to be so excited about the new little one that she came over to give their parents a break by watching the kids.

For the past seven or more years, Pat and Dan spent their winters in Cape San Blas, Florida, on the Gulf Coast. All winter long they would play golf and spend time with their friends from Kalamazoo and Lake Doster who also wintered on the Cape. They also made new friends with couples they met in Florida. Pat loved to walk along the beach looking for shells, and she brought back buckets full of shells for her grandchildren.

Life became more difficult for Pat and her loved ones when she was diagnosed with breast cancer this past April 1st. It was just after being at Kairos Dwelling Hospice Home that she drew her last breath.

A loving wife, devoted mother and grandmother, and fun-loving friend, Patricia Conway was a blessing to all who were within her reach. She was close to her siblings and dedicated to the Catholic faith that directed her steps. Pat will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

Patricia Jo Conway, of Kalamazoo, died on April 16, 2014, in Kalamazoo. Pat’s family includes her husband, Daniel; 4 children: Scott (Jennie) Conway of Columbia, SC, Kelly (Richard) Stack of Wayland, Christopher (Laura) Conway of Indian Trail, NC, and Brian (Jacqueline) Conway of Clinton Township; and 9 grandchildren: Alex, Drew, Megan, Kate, Molly, Rosie, Ben, Abby and Zoë. Pat was preceded in death by her older siblings: Mary Lou McCain, Carol Schueneman, and Edward Carmody. Learn more about Pat and visit with her family and friends while sharing some food and refreshments Monday from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo, 6080 Stadium Drive; 375-2900 where a rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday 10 a.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral. Burial Mt. Olivet Cemetery followed by a luncheon in the church hall. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign her online guestbook before coming to the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Kairos Dwelling.