Lorena Patterson “Snooky”

Lorena M. (Gardner) Patterson, “Snooky”, passed peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of October 18, 2018 at Masonic Pathways.  She was born June 11, 1925 in St. Johns, Michigan, to Parley and Jennie (Howard) Gardner. She married Grant M. Patterson on March 20, 1943 in St. Johns, MI.  The couple had four children, Chris, Bob, Betty and Jill.

Lorena worked several jobs in Ithaca over her lifetime, including Muscott’s Dairy, Ken’s Tavern, and upholstering furniture with dear friend and neighbor Carol Leiter.  She retired as a dispatcher from the Gratiot County Sheriff’s Department in 1989.

Her favorite past times were traveling with her family and friends over the years, making trips to Florida, Wyoming, Colorado, Hawaii and Alaska and many locations in Michigan.  She enjoyed spending Tuesday mornings with “The Coffee Girls”, serving as a Cub Scout Den Mother and 4H Leader.  Camping with her family, friends, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren was a tradition every year at School Section Lake.  Lorena was a member of the Rural Urban Bowling League in Ithaca for several years. She was an avid reader making weekly trips to the Thompson Home Library.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Bob (Cathy) Patterson of Sumner, Betty (Steve) Schumacher of Lake Isabella and Jill Katynski of Grand Blanc.  Grandchildren: Angie (Ivan) Heu of Colorado, Dan (Lynda Black) Bush of Wyoming, Katie Rickle of Texas, Keith Patterson of South Carolina, Brennan Katynski, and Brooke Katynski of Michigan. Great Grandchildren: Keegan and Konnor Patterson of South Carolina, Austin Bush of Wyoming, Ashlyn Rickle of Texas, Alex and Aleah Heu of Colorado.  She is also survived by her sister, Helen (Harry) Thompson of Farwell, MI, and many nieces, nephews and extended family friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Grant and son Chris.

The family will host a Celebration of Life on Saturday, October 27th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Barden Funeral Home, 225 W. Center St. Ithaca, MI  48847.  Dinner will follow at 4:00 pm at the Ithaca Community Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to:  The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 2265 Livernois, Ste 410, Troy, MI 48083.  Envelopes will also be available at Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca.

Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.