Born March 10, 1926
Died June 13, 2021
She was truly an angel on earth. Surrounded by family, she peacefully passed, joining her fellow angels in Heaven on Sunday, June 13, 2021 at The Pines, the former property of her late parents, John and Mary Burg. Patricia was the last of the living Burg children. She was born in the family home on Garfield Street in 1926, and she attended St. Mary Catholic School across the street. She was affectionately called “Pappy” by her father, and she may have waited on you at the counter of the old downtown Burg drugstore. Like her siblings before her, Pat started pouring fountain drinks at the age of 11. Growing up, she spent adventurous summers with her sisters, Mary Jane (Lanning), Virginia (Rowe), Angeline (Foster), Gretchen (Spaulding), and Lou (Guirey) at the family cottage on Crooked Lake, fishing, swimming, and making daily walks around Cavanaugh Lake to the store for candy. Her only brother, Vince Burg, was the last born of the Burg children.
She graduated from Chelsea High School in 1944. Her yearbook noted that she had “a gifted brain and a voice that sings and thrills.” She was a member of the high school: chorus, Journalism Club, Home Ec. Club, Student Council, Triple Trio Band, Swing Band, and yearbook staff.
Patricia may have waited on you when she worked at a small store in the hamlet of Jerusalem in the 1950s. She may have trimmed your steaks behind the meat counter at Stop & Shop in the 60s, or perhaps processed a deer you shot while she was at Jiffy Market in the 1970s. She always greeted you with a smile and a kind spirit, and was truly an angel on earth.
She married Hank Ortbring (d. 1982), and together they raised Tim, Tina Gammon (Mike), Todd (Janice), and Trese Spiess (John Farr) at their country home on Scio Church Road. She loved the country, and enjoyed farm life and long drives on back roads. She married Lester Bennett (d. 1990), and enjoyed traveling the world with him and sharing in the lives of his children, John (Mary), Bill, and Jody Elliot (Dan). After Les passed, she found love again—ironically in the front pew at St. Mary Church (that’s where she sat for mass every day, not far from John Dietz). She and John were married in 1996, and they had a loving life together until John’s passing in 2001. She welcomed John’s children, John (Wendy) and Mark (Tom), into her life and shared a wonderful bond with each.
She had another family that was close to her: the family at St. Mary Church. Patricia was guided by her faith every minute of every day. She helped start the adoration program at church, helped with altar flowers for many years, and mentored so many—sharing her faith and beliefs. Like her father, she was blessed with a beautiful voice. She also was a gifted pianist, following in the footsteps of her late mother who played piano during the silent movies at the old Princess Theater downtown.
She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, faith, a gentle spirit, and love. She touched the lives of so many, and was a second mom to others. She also leaves a lasting memory in her grandchildren and step-grandchildren, Austin, Blake, Calisa (Gary), Emily, Grant, Jamy (Jenni), Jayme Gammon (Hoag), Jeff O (Joni), Jeff E (Amanda), Todd, and Tracey; and her great-grandchildren, Abigail, Cassidy, Jack, June, Mable, and Trinity.
We will celebrate her life starting with a visitation on Thursday, June 24, 2021, 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., and then 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 7:30 p.m., at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea. A funeral service is scheduled for Friday, June 25, 2021, 11:00 a.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church, Chelsea, with a private burial afterward. Patricia asked that any expressions of sympathy be made to St. Mary Catholic Church or the St. Louis Center, both of Chelsea. She truly was an angel on earth.
