Patrice Ann Troyer

After valiantly fighting a nearly four year battle against lyposarcoma, the incurable cancer finally defeated Patrice Troyer on June 4. She died peacefully in her own bed, surrounded by her loving husband Greg and son Jack.

Patrice was born in Baltimore on June 7, 1962, the fourth of five children. She spent her early years living outside of Philadelphia before the family moved to Des Plaines when Patrice was in fifth grade. She graduated Forest View High School in 1980, and spent the rest of her life residing in the Northwest suburbs.

Patrice discovered her passion in life after watching Olga Korbut flip and tumble her way to the Gold medal in the 1972 Olympics. From then on, it was all cartwheels, handstands, flip-flops, and dismounts. She began competing in middle school, won her first MSL Conference medal as a freshman, and finished her career as a member of the FVHS team that finished in 5th place at the IHSA State Finals and earned All-American High School Team status.

After graduation, she quickly moved on to coaching, running the Mt. Prospect Park District gymnastics program throughout the 1980’s. Once the park district program relocated to Prospect High School, she expanded her duties to include leading the high school’s JV team, coaching many of kids that had started with her as a child. Some, in turn, later became instructors in that same park district program.

In 1997, Patrice fulfilled a lifetime dream by opening Dreams Gymnastics and Dance, Inc in Glenview, IL. Dreams was one of the first gyms in Illinois to be owned by a female, and it soon grew into one of the premier clubs on the north shore. Tens of thousands of boys and girls have been part of the “Dreams Team” during the past 27 years. Meanwhile, the competitive program continues to be a powerhouse in Illinois, developing many USAG state and regional champions, a few NCAA Div 1 athletes, as well as several IHSA State medalists, including this year’s IHSA individual all-around state champion.

When not coaching, Patrice was an avid explorer, alongside her husband Greg, and later, their son Jack. They loved to explore different places together, whether it was Alaska (honeymoon), Hawaii, the Rocky Mountains, Michigan’s UP, Cancun, Yellowstone, the Black Hills, the Smokey Mountains, DisneyWorld, or ski trips to Utah or Colorado. She loved her family vacations up and down the northeast coastline, especially at Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester MA, and on the eastern beaches of Cape Cod. Finally, a favorite destination was anywhere The Rolling Stones were playing, including a surprise trip to England to rock out with Mick, Keith, Ronnie, and Charlie.

Patrice was a kind, sweet, and gentle person who had a passion for what she believed in. Yet she had a fighting spirit on a level that few others possessed. She was a role model to thousands of little girls, who she helped shape into young women, and several became Dreams coaches and role models themselves.

She leaves behind her husband and soulmate of over thirty years, Greg, and her son Jack, who brought endless joy to her world. Devastated with her passing are her siblings Eileen (Rich) Nadolski, Jack (Lynn) O’Mera, Francis (Lang) O’Mera, and Joe (Laura) O’Mera, and her nieces and nephews: John, Tom, and Kristin, (and their families), as well as Oriana, Meglan, Allie, Brendan, Max, and Maddie. Her parents John and Grace O’Mera preceded her in death. On the Troyer side, she leaves behind her in-laws, Robert and Mary Lou Troyer, her brother-in-laws Brad (Jeanie Nelson), Todd (Patty), and Curtis, and her nephews Kirk (and his family), Aaron, and Alex. Lastly, attempting to push on forward without her is the Dreams team: Jess, Mike, Phillip, Carolyn, Amy, Heather, Robin, and Paige.

Internment, visitation, and a Celebration of Life will take place on July 6. A private graveside ceremony at Maryhill Cemetery in Niles will take place at 9:30am for the family. The visitation will be held from 11am until 3pm at Glueckert’s Funeral Home, (1520 N. Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights), immediately followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 3pm (also at Glueckert’s).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org/donate), a cause Patrice and Dreams Gymnastics generously supported over the years, or Camp I Am Me, hosted by the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (ifsa.org/ways-to-give/donate-now). Camp I Am Me is for children who are burn victims. Patrice was a burn survivor herself, and supported this group privately.