Mary Patricia “Pat” Nelson, 97, of Hinsdale passed away on June 1, 2023, peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones, after a short illness.
Pat was born in 1925 to William and Maryellen, nee McHugh, Fletcher in Chicago. After Pat graduated from Parker High School in 1944, she enrolled in the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where she studied journalism. After graduation, her first job was at Johnson & Johnson as the editor of their company newsletter. Subsequent to that, she spent many years as a librarian at Hinsdale Public Library, then retired in 1986.
In 1953, she met Clarence when they were both members of the choir at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Riverside, which is where they were married on Nov. 3, 1956. Pat and Clarence had two children, daughter Julianne and son James.
Pat loved being a mom and being involved in her children’s activities. She spent some time as a den mother for her son’s cub Scout troop and taught her daughter to sew. Pat was a longtime parishioner of Grace Episcopal Church, and was also the director of the Altar Guild. She was also a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a veteran of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Pat was an avid bridge player, and also enjoyed sewing, knitting, studying genealogy, sailing and traveling.
Her favorite destination was Hawaii, and was able to make several trips to the islands. In recent years, she enjoyed attending annual Woofstock gatherings with her daughter.
Pat was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence in 2014; and her lifelong best friend Dorothy, in 2019. She is survived by her children, Julianne of Hinsdale and James (Catherine).
Services are to be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made online to the Hinsdale Humane Society at http://www.hinsdalehumanesociety.org or the Papillon Haven Rescue at http://www.paphaven.org.
