Patricia Dorene Herrmann

Of Arlington Heights

Patricia D. Herrmann (nee Jensen) passed away on Saturday, January 15, 2022, in Arlington Heights at the age of 90. Patricia, the daughter of Peter and Florence (nee Schafer) Jensen, was born December 21, 1931. An avid learner and bright student, Patricia attended a small, one-room grade school in Chebanse, IL, followed by Herscher Township High School in Herscher, IL. The first in her family to enroll in college, she graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL. In 1956, she joined the otherwise all-male mathematics department at Arlington High School as a teacher. After teaching high school for six years, Patricia was the recipient of an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to Northwestern University. While cherishing the honor and opportunity, Patricia instead began her family with her husband Thomas Herrmann, whom she married August 2, 1958, and with whom she had four daughters.

After many years at home raising her daughters, Patricia worked for a bank and as a customer service representative for JCPenney. Patricia enjoyed playing bridge, reading, attending plays and musicals, solving Wheel of Fortune puzzles, cheering for the Chicago Bulls, and supporting her granddaughters at their sporting events (and encouraging them to take math seriously!). Patricia was enthusiastic about playing piano and writing articles that appeared in the Daily Herald’s Neighbor Fencepost section. She was a member of Kappa Mu Epsilon, Kappa Gamma Pi, and NAMI. While raising her children, Patricia volunteered as a Girl Scout leader and CCD teacher. Her later years found her mentoring in District 21 as a member of OASIS, volunteering at St. Mary School, and singing as a member of the choir at St. Mary Parish, where she was a member for almost 45 years.

Her survivors include her husband of 63 years, Thomas, and her daughters Mary (Chuck) Fredericks, Patricia Anne Herrmann, and Joan Leon; and her granddaughters Amanda Leon (Ryan Kim) and Brianna Leon. Other survivors include her sister, Carol Jamnik, her brother-in-law Richard (Beverly) Herrmann, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Jerome, Marian, and Marge, and her daughter Janet Herrmann.

Visitation will be at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL, on Friday, January 21st, from 3 pm to 8 pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:00 PM on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at St. Mary Parish located at 10 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove, IL. Burial will follow at St. Michael Cemetery in Palatine, IL.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to NAMI Northwest Suburban - National Alliance of Mental Illness, P.O. Box 1778, Arlington Heights 60006, https://www.naminorthwestsuburban.org, to NWSRA 3000 Central Rd., Rolling Meadows, IL 60008, https://www.justgiving.com/specialleisureservicesfoundation, to Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago 17 N. State, Suite 650, Chicago, IL 60602 www.epilepsychicago.org, or to University of St. Francis, 500 Wilcox St., Joliet, IL 60435 https://www.stfrancis.edu/give.

Funeral information and condolences can be given at www.GlueckertFuneralHome.com or at 847-253-0168.