The world has lost a truly beautiful person, a woman of great character and joy, with the death of Patricia H. Cary “Pat”, who passed on December 6, 2024, at age 96 years. Recently of South Bend, Indiana, Pat was preceded in death by her husband John C. Cary. She is survived by her sons John C. (Mary) Cary III and David J. (Jodi) Cary, both of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and her daughters Susan White of Niles, Michigan, and Barbara (Rex) Sessions of Harbert, Michigan; grandchildren Anna (Ben) Long, Brian Cary, Alex White, Isabel Sessions, Elizabeth Cary, Zachary Sessions, and Caroline Cary; and great grandchild Zeke Long; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Patricia “Pat” was born on May 6, 1928, in Youngstown, Ohio to Joseph and Frances Maude (Parker) Hyland. She graduated from East Orange High School in 1946 and attended Katharine Gibbs School in New York City from 1947 through 1948. She worked for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Ann Arbor in 1952. On August 22, 1953, she married John Cornelius Cary. They moved to Niles, Michigan in 1963 where they were residents for 55 years, later moving in 2018 to Holy Cross Village in South Bend, Indiana. While raising four children, she received a B.A. from Indiana University in 1974, followed by her teaching degree.
Pat began teaching in the Niles Public Schools in 1975, first at Ballard Junior High, then at Niles High School until she retired in the late 1980s. In addition to teaching English, Pat directed the high school musicals in Niles for many years. She was a long-time member of the Niles Service League. Pat’s creative abilities were abundant as she was an avid singer, dancer, writer, and seamstress. She also maintained many other interests, including golf and bridge.
A celebration of Pat’s life will be held on December 22, 2024 in Niles. Details of the celebration will be provided online this week on www.Brownfuneralhomeniles.com
Posted On: Wednesday, December 11, 2024 3:29 PM
