Mary "Pat" Placida Ponsot

Mary “Pat” Ponsot, of Arlington Heights, (102 years old) was born in Glennonville Missouri on February 1, 1923. Beloved daughter of Elizabeth “Elsie” (nee Stenger), and Henry A. Stolle gently returned back into the Loving Hands of God on May 30, 2025.

Pat was always present with a cheerful smile, kind heart, and optimistic outlook on life. Growing up on a farm in pre-depression Missouri, one of 11 children, resulted in the hard work ethic she exhibited all her life. During her upbringing, two of her favorite pastimes, gardening and sewing would follow along with her all her life. An avid gardener, her pride each season was tending her abundant annual and perennial garden of peonies, iris, roses, daisies, geraniums, mums, and wildflowers. But her yearly joy was her tomato patch, a throwback begun on her childhood farm when tomatoes were ripening in the summer sun; a young girl raced through the barn grabbing a handful of rock salt & sat in the patch to devour tomatoes from the vine until her stomach hurt.

A gentle and devout soul, she always loved helping others! Together with her husband Charles J. Ponsot, a ‘gentle-man’ with a larger than life kindred soul, that bound them together sharing their prayers, lives, and love for 55 years. They both were hopelessly dedicated, devoted, and faithful as deeply to one another as to the spirit and faith they brought and shared participating in the St. James Parish, Pat with the Ladies Guild, Bridge Group, Garden Club, & Church Bingo.

The 1963 move to Arlington Heights from St. Louis was hard for Pat. However, their new house quickly became a home full of love and joy that she shared with her many new neighbors. The change in lifestyle provided her four children with an idyllic 60’s & 70’s upbringing. A marvellous cook, proud of her home, with that lifelong passion for sewing begun early in her teenage years, Pat provided many hand stitched outfits and numerous repairs for her three boys’ rough and tumble enjoyment while growing up. This devotion to her sewing resulted in a 30 year cherished engagement with the Hagenbrings Fabric Store and friendship shared with the owners Vern & Trudy for the rest of their lives.

We who knew and love her are forever grateful for the skills she shared from these two pastimes. We can only hope to cultivate and pass along too, that green thumb garden touch, given to her children and grandchildren every day of her life, as she:

‘Planted’.............................. Right judgement, with kindness & mercy,

‘Fed & Tended’.................... Joy, with optimism & hope,

‘Watered & Nourished’........ Simplicity and Trust, with Prayer & Faith!

She always encouraged each one of us as she nurtured us to grow, with those three kind caring words from her Heart……….. “Offer It Up”!

Her skills learned as a seamstress, she applied for family & friends as she bound, sewed, & mended all the wounds and hurts a life could bring. The FABRIC she chose gave just the right softness & comfort over our wounds, the THREAD chosen to give the strength but stretch to aid healing, the STITCH selected as salve as she focused on the beautiful outcome of her handiwork, the IRONING the final product sealing the passion given in the care and quality of her finished work!

And when she had finished, you felt the kiss of her care & kindness, and were bolstered with her encouragement, hope, & love as you got up again to walk away. We’ll Love You for All Eternity!

As you drift away to heaven, to receive God’s and Dad’s embrace, know that you packed your earthly treasures of Kindness, Compassion, & Love with the same care as when you prepared your luggage to Fresno, California in 1943 to be wed to your Husband Charles, Forever!

Since she lived such a long & fruitful life, Pat was predeceased in death by her husband Charles Sr, her son Chuck, her parents Elizabeth & Henry Stolle, and all of her siblings except Hank and Eddie Stolle.

Her living descendents include her children Susan (Doug) Kamp, Paul (Jayne) Ponsot, and Thomas (Kathleen) Ponsot.

Her grandchildren include Laura (Doug) Tepen, Doug Jr. (Debra) Kamp, Cheryl (Chris) Meador, David (Beth) Ponsot, Jill Padera, Christie Ponsot, Tara Ponsot, Jeneva (Jonny) Davis, Forrest Ponsot, Timothy (Mary Alice) Ponsot, and Danielle Ponsot.

Her great-grandchildren include Amanda (James) Allen, Amber (Luke) Calvert, Abigail Tepen; Brianna, Mitchell, and Clayton Kamp; Madison, Kenzie, and Morgan Meador; Peyton, Paul, and Preston Ponsot; Brandon and Brady Padera; and Daisy Ponsot.

Finally, her great-great-grandchildren include Caden, Joel, Easton, and Wyatt Allen.

Any memorial donations under her name may be made out to St. Jude’s Children's Research Hospital or Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

Family will be receiving guests from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at St. James Catholic Church, 831 N Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Mass at St. James Catholic Church will follow visitation at 10:00 AM on the same day. Interment to follow at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Cemetery, 1185 W Algonquin Rd, Palatine, IL 60067.