On Tuesday evening, September 24, 2024, the Ziolkowski family lost our beloved Irish mother, Patricia, who passed away surrounded by the love of her children in Chelsea, MI. She took her last breath shortly after we finished praying the rosary, a true testament to her lifelong devotion to her faith.
Our mother was born in Detroit, Michigan, on November 4, 1934. She grew up in Saginaw with her parents, Thomas and Kathleen McCarthy, her sister, Jane Ann, and her brother, Tom. She attended Aquinas College in Grand Rapids where she was a cheerleader and graduated with a teaching degree. She was incredibly social in college and caught the eye of a dashing young man, Robert “Bob” Ziolkowski. She married the love of her life in 1959. And a year later, her most cherished role began when they started a family. Together, they raised eight children in Jackson and Clark Lake.
Mom lived her life with compassion, love, humor, and selflessness. Those close to her saw her silly side and could also rely on her for sage advice. She truly lived the corporal works of mercy: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead. She was a dedicated and loyal friend, a mother to many, and gave comfort to those in need. She dedicated herself to others: raising her children, volunteering at Queen’s and Lumen Christi, opening her home to those who didn’t have a family, and being a friend to all. A voracious reader, Mom would often be found down by the lake in a lawn chair with a “good book”. She cherished her daytime naps when the kids were at school and had an amazing close knit group of friends who met on a regular basis for years.
One of her biggest joys was her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She absolutely loved the babies! Our mother never missed a baptism, confirmation, first communion, graduation, bridal shower, wedding or baby shower.
After the kids left home, Mom and Dad began a new chapter in their life. Their adventures together took them to Italy, Banff, Israel, the Galapagos, white water rafting in the Grand Canyon, and several trips to see their children in California. But the trip she looked forward to the most was the annual Z summer vacation Up North. Our parents were committed to nurturing the bonds among our family and keeping the ties close among the siblings, our spouses, and our children. The tradition continues 30 years on.
In addition to our family, her legacy includes her unwavering commitment to the less fortunate. She and Bob traveled to Bolivia to administer medical aid in remote villages and traveled to Merida, Mexico, where she served for years on the Board of Directors for an organization supporting Indigenous groups in the Yucatan Peninsula. Mom was incredibly committed to her faith throughout her life. In recent years, she studied the teachings of St. Francis de Sales and served in many capacities in the Daughters of St. Francis de Sales.
Our mother is preceded in death by our father, Bob (2017), her sister, Jane Ann, and brother-in- law, Gus, her brother, Tom, her brother-in-law, John, and her sister-in-law, Pat.
Mom’s faith, compassion, and integrity will live on forever in her children: Tom (Jenny), Bob (Karen), Ann, Mike, Jane (Joe), Patty (Chris), Joe (Abby), and Matt (Margo). She was the cherished Nana to Tommy (Bronti), Katie (Jeremy), Robbie, Jay, Becca (Austin), Julie, Kate (Brandon), Charlie, Maggie, Griffin, Christman, Hudson, Florian, Kai, Zora, and Marigold and great-grandmother to Eloise, Thomas, Callahan, Theo, and baby Hepner due in a couple weeks. She will be greatly missed by her nieces and nephews: Mari, John, Pete, Jim, Dave, Michael, and Jennifer. Blessings to her best friend, Connie O’Connor, who visited mom on a weekly basis for the past several years and brought her much laughter and joy!
The Ziolkowski family is incredibly grateful to the team at Towsley Memory Care – our mother’s home for the past three years. Special thanks to Anaya, Belina, Caprisha, Destiny, Jack, Jay, Jessica, Melissa, Rachel, Tim, Trisha, Tyah, and Ulonda. Thank you for your unconditional love and care.
Our mother’s devout faith and dedication to her family is a source of comfort in our time of grief.
The family will receive friends at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, 901 N. Main St, Chelsea, MI, on Sunday, September 29, 2024 from 4-8 p.m., with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, September 30, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, 14200 E. Old US Hwy 12, Chelsea, MI, with Father Ken McKenna OSFS presiding.
If desired, memorial contributions can be made to Faith In Action or Camp de Sales Catholic Camp or offer your time/resources to someone in need in her honor.
