Patricia Ciszczon

Funeral Service: Memorial Mass, Tuesday, October 26, 2021, 11:00 am at Saint Stephen Catholic Church, Caseyville, IL (Masks are required).

Interment: Private

Kassly-Meridith Funeral Home, Collinsville, IL

Patricia Ciszczon, 100, Of Collinsville, IL, passed away peacefully September 28, 2021- in her home.  In her final hours, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren came to her bedside to offer her comfort and surround her with love.

Pat was born January 4, 1921, as Fern Casady in North Liberty, Indiana.  As a young girl, she excelled in school and relished living in North Liberty where her father served as mayor.  Following the early death of both her mother and her sister, Pat, with her brother and father, formed a tightly bonded family overcoming their grief together to move forward in life. In Pat’s early teens, she embraced this new family structure but only tolerated the family’s relocation to a farm outside of Bronson, Michigan; during this period, she acquired a distaste for farm life and realized she was a city girl. Pat successfully completed her education and happily joined the workforce. In her 20’s, Pat enjoyed taking the South Shore train into Chicago with friends to enjoy the city and dances at the Aragon Ballroom.  It was through friends that she met Walt.  Pat married Walter J. Ciszczon on August 28, 1948.  They celebrated 53 years of marriage in 2000 before Walt’s death in 2001.  In the early years of marriage, they resided in Mishawaka and Bloomington, Indiana, eventually moving to Collinsville in 1956.

Pat was an active citizen and mother.  She voted regularly and enjoyed political debate.  She was a leader in the first 4-H Club in Collinsville, and she and Walt were dedicated and involved parishioners at St. Stephen parish in Caseyville.  She frequently volunteered at her children’s schools:  St. Stephen Catholic Grade School, The Academy Notre Dame, Assumption High School, and Althoff Catholic High School.

Pat enjoyed life to the fullest, had a quick Irish wit, and enjoyed many friendships.  She enjoyed reading, baking, backyard birding, and talking with all people.  She loved to sew, knit, and crochet.  She was an avid sports fan, especially Cardinal’s baseball and Notre Dame football, and she liked Collinsville’s close proximity to St. Louis because she could visit the art museums, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and attend performances at the Muny and Powell Symphony Hall.

Her kindness to others was inspirational, and her involvement with her family and in her church and community gave her joy. Pat could often be seen in her mid-life and late years walking through Collinsville on her morning route, and despite her fear of water, she took swimming lessons in her 70’s to overcome that fear.  Later in life, she enjoyed taking writing classes at a local community college.  In Pat’s final years, she made many new friends and enjoyed her days at St. John’s Community Care where she loved to compete in trivia, complete art projects, dance, and relentlessly tease the unsuspecting (and even those who knew her well and should have seen it coming).  Throughout her life, Pat enjoyed laughing and nudging others to laugh with her.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband Walt; her parents, Grover and Nora Belle Casady;  sister, Mildred; brother Dale, and son-in-law, Dennis Deihl.

She is survived by her six children, Walt (Carol) Ciszczon, Los Angeles, CA, Mary Lou Deihl, Belleville, IL, Anita (Joe) Schmitt, Fairview Heights, IL, Sue (Tom) Braxmeier, Fairview Heights, IL, John (Irina) Ciszczon, Reno, NV, Lisa Brennan, Collinsville, IL; grandchildren, Walter, Christine, Julie, Nicole, Robert, Alethea, Melissa, Michael, Eric, Christian, Stacey, Stephanie, Amie, Sara, Elizabeth, Andrew, John, Christopher, Nicolas, Luke, Gleb, Kristofor, Patrick, Daniel, Andrea; 25 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; nieces; nephews; great nieces; nephews; and even, great-great nieces and nephews.

Pat’s family wishes to thank all those who helped her live and age with dignity, respect, and fun.  We are especially grateful to her neighborhood friends, the staff of St. John’s, and the team from Heartland Hospice.

Memorials may be made to St. John Community Care in Collinsville, Heartland Hospice, and/or St. Stephen Parish in Caseyville.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at 11:00 am, at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Caseyville, IL. Masks are mandatory to attend.

Kassly-Meridith Funeral Home, Collinsville, IL