Pat Evert

The heartbeat of wherever she was, Pat Evert was a blessing to everyone she met. She was vibrant, vivacious, and fun-loving with a contagious zest for life coupled with a certain spunk that made her so much fun to be around. Pat was a loving wife and devoted mother who loved nothing more than witnessing her family tree blossom to include numerous branches of loved ones who were her greatest source of pride and joy. As her family and friends can attest, she told the best stories that were often windows into her younger years. Family was always of the utmost importance, and a friend of Pat’s was a friend for life. Although she will be deeply missed, she leaves behind a priceless collection of stories and precious memories that will live on for generations to come.

The 1920s were vibrant and prosperous years in America, but the 1930s were a much different story as the entire decade was cloaked in the hardship of the Great Depression. Jobs were scarce, which caused the unemployment rate to soar leaving cities, communities, and families to come together to weather the storm however they could. Amidst this challenging time, Frank and Rose (Kubat) Wunderlich Sr. were able to shift their focus to an exciting time in their own lives as they were eagerly anticipating the birth of their first child as fall began to unfold in the city of Chicago, Illinois, in 1934. The big day finally arrived on October 1st when the baby girl they named Patricia Ann “Patsy” drew her first breath. She was the oldest of four children and was raised in the family home on the Southside of Chicago alongside her siblings, Frank “Fritz,” Nancy, and John “Jack.” Pat’s father worked at Cracker Jack while her mother was a homemaker until all her children were in school.

In many ways Pat was a young girl of her generation. She loved hanging out with her favorite Aunt Margie who knew that Patsy would want to spend the night. It was always such a treat when her aunt invited her, and Pat usually replied with, “Really, can I?!” She attended St. Agnes Catholic School where she excelled in her studies and was popular among her peers as she always had many friends. In fact, Pat had many boyfriends, too! In addition to holding down her studies, Pat got her first job at 16 in order to earn some extra spending money, which was usually spent on clothes. Her sister, Nancy, was known to raid her closet, much to Pat’s dismay, and one can only imagine Pat’s reaction when one of her friends once said, “Oh, you’re wearing Nancy’s blouse,” when it was actually her blouse! That was one thing that Pat never let Nancy forget! In high school she was also very proud to be part of the newspaper staff at Providence High School. After graduating from high school she attended Chicago Teacher’s College.

Not to be forgotten during her years as a young woman was Pat’s introduction to the man who would change the course of her life forever. His name was Edward Kenna, and they met in college. After dating for a time they were married in a wedding ceremony in a local church in 1956. In 1960, they moved to Elk Grove Village, and in 1961 they welcomed their daughter, Kathleen, into their hearts and home. Although they later divorced, Pat was always grateful for the daughter she and Ed shared.

There was never anything that was of greater importance to Pat than her family. During the 1960s and 1970s, she and her siblings and cousins often got together with their families to vacation at Michillinda Lodge in Whitehall. On April 20, 1974, she married David Evert, whom she had met at work. This marriage also brought two stepchildren, Lynda and David, into her life. In the 1980s, Pat and Dave rented a cottage on Gravel Lake in Lawton just nine houses down from her brother Frank and Virginia’s cottage. They eventually purchased a home at nearby Fish Lake in Marcellus.

When she was with her family, Pat always loved cooking for a crowd, and she collected recipes to try out at parties. It has been said that her cooking was legendary as her roast pork and potato pancakes were truly amazing. Pat could recreate recipes, too, as her family also loved her The Original Pancake House apple pancakes and her recreation of White Castle sliders. Some of the times her family enjoyed most were when Pat told stories, which she did all the time, and one always knew a story was coming when she started off with, “One time…,” as she loved talking of her teenage years. She especially enjoyed recounting how her father closely monitored her dating life!

In addition to spending time with her family, Pat enriched her life in other ways, too. She worked hard as an accountant and took great pride in her work. Pat worked various places through the years including at the Midtown Tennis Club in Chicago where meeting famous people was a regular event. She also worked in sky rises with the most beautiful views of Lake Michigan. Pat was thoughtful and conscientious in her work, too, and she was always very good friends with her coworkers and bosses alike. At one time she was active in the Elk Grove Junior Women’s Club, participating in their fashion show and all their dinner dances every year. Pat was an avid golfer who often played with her good friend, Felicia Smith. After they completed a round, they usually went to Big T for lunch (Jalapeño Soup), and since those two loved to talk it was usually hours before Pat was home. She was amazing at watercolor painting, and over the years nearly everyone in the family has received one of her paintings. Pat even won first prize in the Palm Resaca Park contest on one occasion. She frequently visited casinos and loved Las Vegas and Tunica. Pat loved card games like bridge, euchre, pinochle, and poker. She was an avid reader and enjoyed watching Judge Judy and the Lifetime Movie Network. During her younger years she was an excellent bowler, too.

Beginning in the late eighties, Pat and Dave wintered in Brownsville, Texas, and in 2003 they sold their home on Fish Lake in Marcellus and became permanent residents of Palm Resaca Park in Texas. She and Dave were very active in the Park community and enjoyed playing poker with their friends. She was deeply saddened with Dave’s death in 2008. In August of 2014, she moved to Michigan to be closer to family.

Loving, generous, and sweet, Pat Evert was an extraordinary woman to know and love. She was creative and talented, yet she was also humble and focused on others. Pat’s stories, recipes, and unconditional love will never be forgotten.

Pat Evert died April 25, 2015. Pat’s family includes her daughter: Kathy (Mike Barrio) Kenna; step-children: Lynda (Steve) Carter and David (Jennie) Evert; 8 grandchildren: Steven and Liz Carter, Nathan, Nick, Sarah, Jenna, David and Anna Evert; 3 siblings: Frank (Virginia) Wunderlich, Nancy Wunderlich and Jack (Joanne) Wunderlich; nieces and nephews: Michael (Deb), Lisa (Shawn), Tom (KJ), Tim (Molly) and Sue (Margo); many cousins and great-nieces and nephews. Pat was preceded in death by her husband, David Carl Evert; and by her parents. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Paw Paw. Burial St. Mary’s Cemetery. Following the burial, a reception will be held at the Life Story Funeral Homes, Betzler & Thompson – Paw Paw; 60900 M-40 Highway (657-3870). Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.