Patricia Ann Mathews

I would still plant my apple tree”

The indomitable Patricia Ann (Kremer) Mathews passed from our lives on Monday December 7th, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. She taught her children decades ago, that mourning has its place, but living must come soon after. She was our driving force. Loving, tough, smart, athletic, opinionated, funny, fiercely loyal, and compassionate. A devout Catholic and an unapologetic Democrat. She was just as likely to be chasing a peeping Tom down our driveway as she was to be sitting vigil at the bedside of a dying friend. She never waited for nor tolerated being told her place in the world. Our mom was a woman for all seasons, and we were her favorite team. She loved us unconditionally. She loved us individually. We are staggered by her loss, but emboldened by the memories of what she meant to each of our lives. How very lucky we were….

Patricia (Pat) Ann Kremer was born in Mitchell, South Dakota on January 19th, 1933 to Mark and Lillian Kremer. I think we are safe to assume that the day dawned frigid. She was the 2nd born of the Kremer children following after her brother Bob. Younger sister Terry arrived just 18 months later. In 1939, mom and her family, including an aunt and uncle, left Mitchell in a “very small Ford” and headed West. It was the tail-end of the Great Depression. A period of time that had left South Dakota devastated.

Pat and her family found a home in the All Saints Parish in Portland, Oregon where she attended elementary school. Her brother Bob claims that while our mom was a child at All Saints, she once regaled the nuns with news that, “My dad buys a gallon of whiskey every Christmas, but it’s just for colds”…. She was a feared pitcher on the softball diamond, an accomplished athlete, and a very active and popular child in that great neighborhood. It was at All Saints where she began a lifetime of friendships with both priests and nuns who would nourish her Catholic faith and fortify her spirit through all of her 87 years. She greatly admired their dedication in service to others and cherished so many of them all of the days of her life.

Pat travelled up the hill for high school to the all-girls Holy Child Academy. She was involved in everything athletic, as well as student government and drama. Her sister Terry recalls Pat’s large group of high school friends being fondly known as “The Troublemakers”. Many of those wonderful women would later enliven our family home with tales of their youthful exploits. They liked their cocktails cold and their audience attentive. They were some of Pat’s closest, most trusted friends throughout her life. The majority of “The Troublemakers” now welcome her to their eternal reunion.

Pat ventured off to college, first to Seattle University, and then to Marylhurst College where she received her teaching credential. While in the process of completing her student teaching, She married George Mathews on August 8, 1953 in All Saints old church. The officiant for their wedding was her former All Saints softball coach and dear friend Father Kies. Our mom was a 20 year-old bride who looked beautiful, and not a day over 17.

Prior to securing her first teaching job, her 1st born arrived. Mark was born in 1955, followed by the biennial appearances of Betsy, Terry, Bill, and then Bob. The burgeoning Mathews family was now ensconced on NE Bryce Street in the Madeleine parish. Our house was a cauldron of children. Pat often laughingly described her role to friends in those days as “chief cook and bottle washer”. We would have described her role as the center of all things.

Those years with growing children at Madeleine, and eventually Central Catholic and St Mary’s Academy, were some of the busiest and happiest days of Pat’s life. When she wasn’t coaching softball at Madeleine, filling in as a substitute teacher, or Chairing the Madeleine Parish Council, you would likely find her at a St Mary’s volleyball game or a Central Catholic football game, or a little league game at Wilshire Park, a swimming lesson or a tennis match at The Irvington Club, or travelling with our dad on business. We lived in an amazing neighborhood surrounded by large, boisterous families. Everybody had brothers and sisters. Everybody had a couple of spares. Our friends loved catching up with our mom. She was a terrific listener who treated them like people, and valued them. “My all-time favorite Madeleine mom”, via a recent note from an old friend, “she always made time for me and she LISTENED”……"she tied my tie for my graduation photos”…."she was my 2nd mom”….."what an athlete!”

In 1978, Pat and George built their dream house and a tennis court in SW Portland. They hosted ferocious doubles matches and delicious dinners for a never-ending stream of family and friends. All were welcome, all were fed. In 1979, George suddenly and unexpectedly died. Pat was a widowed mother of five at 46 years-old. Her children anxiously looked to her to see which way the wind was going to blow and when the rain was going to stop. She spent those indescribably awful days comforting family and friends. She mourned with us, but shouldered that abundant weight for us. She saved our lives.

Trying to accurately and faithfully describe the years of our mom’s life after our dad died is simple. She simply never retreated. Our mom badly missed our dad, but she never ever made that our burden. She educated her children, celebrated our weddings, the births of our children and the milestones of both her and our lives. She continued to give both her time an her treasure to the places, people, and causes that she believed in. As a Distinguished Benefactor of Central Catholic High School, she was asked to give the 2008 Commencement address. She shared the stories of her life with the gathered graduates sitting in the Chiles Center that day. She artfully implored them to “Teach your grandparents how to text!”

Our mom lead a wonderful life. She was a living example of resilience, joy, and boundless generosity to all of those who were fortunate enough to share her orbit. Somewhere today our incredible parents are joyfully reunited. We humbly thank God for that, and for them.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents Mark and Lillian Kremer and her beloved husband George Mathews. She is survived by her 5 children, Mark (Amy), Betsy, Terry, (Stuart), Bill (Tiffany), and Bob (Stephanie). She leaves behind 12 Grandchildren and 10 Great Grandchildren, each of whom she adored and each of whom are better off for having watched the light with which she lived. She is survived by her 2 siblings, big brother Bob Kremer and younger sister Terry (Kremer) Poche’ both of Portland, Oregon. Aunt Pat is survived by 3 nieces and 3 nephews who she always loved being an Aunt to.

Due to the world that we all now find ourselves in, Pat’s funeral will unfortunately have to be family only as we all take sensible precautions. A Funeral mass will be held Thursday at the place that means so much to all of us, Madeleine. Our mom will be buried in a private ceremony next to our dad at Mt. Calvary later that day. We plan to host a celebration of our mom’s life at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, we would ask that you consider a donation to the newly established George and Patricia Mathews Scholarship Fund at Central Catholic High School. The George Mathews Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1979. It was very important to our parents that everyone who seeks a Catholic education is provided that opportunity.