Patricia Kowalski, nee Geraghty, age 88 of LaGrange Park, formerly of Chicago. Beloved wife of the late Thaddeus "Ted" Kowalski; loving mother of David (Michele) Kowalski and Neil Kowalski; devoted grandmother of Alexandra, Evelyn, Rachel and Anna; dear sister of Dolores (the late Donald) Hickey, Eileen Geraghty and the late Mary (the late Hubert) Annen, Michael (the late Kathleen) Geraghty, Catherine (the late William) Paterson and Barbara (John) Duffin; the beautiful and clever Aunt Patsy to many nieces and nephews.
Lying in State Friday, March 25, 2022 from 9:00 A.M. to time of Mass 11:00 A.M. at the Alexine Chapel, 1515 W. Ogden Ave. LaGrange Park. Please enter the Chapel by using the Eastside entrance.
Patricia Geraghty was born on January 26, 1934, the third child of Michael and Julia Geraghty. She grew up in St Margaret of Scotland Parish in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago and attended Longwood Academy High School. Patricia loved music from a young age, traveling alone on the bus and then the "L" train to piano lessons downtown. She would even play piano in the mornings at Most Holy Redeemer Church before school. She cherished her Geraghty siblings Mary, Michael, Rory, Kay, Barb and Eileen.
Patricia embraced her love of education in her 20s by teaching young people (she loved teenagers!) in both Davenport, Iowa and Danville, Illinois and then again later in life at Mt. Carmel High School and Morgan Park High School. She was a dedicated teacher, often calling parents just to let them know their child was excelling in her class.
While she was attending St. Mary's of Notre Dame and achieving her Master’s Degree at the University of Notre Dame, she entered the Holy Cross Order and was known as Sister Benedict Labre. Upon leaving the order, she spent time teaching at the University of Illinois while pursuing course work for a PhD.