Patricia B. Hurd

“Seeing is believing”. For many, those words simply represent a motto, but for Patricia B. Hurd, (but known as Pat), it summarized in every way who she was. She was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around her and always thinking before acting. She was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything she did. She was a friendly person who truly cared about those around her.

Pat was born on August, 12, 1937 at German Deaconess Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. She was the daughter of Belle and Lloyd Niggle. Raised in Chicago, Illinois, she was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, she learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that she would carry with her throughout her life.

As a young girl, Pat was always aware of how others around her felt and this quality served her well. With a deep capacity to tolerate the feelings of others, she was generally able to avoid conflicts. It seemed as if she was the family member who was always working to keep stress at bay. Preferring a quiet environment where she could concentrate, Pat also had the ability to relate well with her family and friends. She was raised with one foster sister, Patsy. Later in her life, her father had a son, Jason. She was constantly involved in activities with her family. Pat and her siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up but they deeply cared for each other and shared many life experiences over the years.

Growing up, Pat was one of those children who didn’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. She was content to entertain herself. She was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything she did as a child, Pat was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around her. She took part in a number of activities as a child. In her spare time she liked reading comic books.

Pat enjoyed learning. She always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. She was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. She often showed great concentration and competence at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, Pat was painstaking and accurate in her efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. She graduated from Lindblom High School in June 1956. Pat enjoyed some classes more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was Household Arts. The teacher she enjoyed learning from the most was Ms. Betty Lou McBride.

Most folks would say that Pat was shy until they got to know her. Those who were privileged to know her well learned that she was a solid, good friend. Pat was reluctant to generalize about people, and she based her friendships on her personal experiences. Because of this, Pat trusted those people that she truly knew. She was concerned about how those around her felt, and she always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. She could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that Pat made, she kept. While growing up, some of her best friends we Sue Sawyer, Arline Reed, Dickie Joe Skyprkun, and Sandra Matbach, just to name a few. Later in life, she became friends with Joan Crosse.

Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for Pat. On September 27, 1958, Pat married Edward William Hurd (better known as Ed) at Ashland Christian Church of Christ of Chicago, Illinois. She was totally committed to Ed and maintained traditional ideals about marriage. It was as if Pat naturally sensed her spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although Pat disliked conflict, she did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times. When she lost, Ed, the love of her life, Pat had her faith, strength, and the love and support of her family to help her carry on during those difficult times.

Pat was a good mother to her child. She had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because she trusted emotions, Pat was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way, she seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around her, always thinking before acting. In addition, she was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around her might be, she seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. Pat was blessed with one child, Daniel.

Pat liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced her choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, she preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on her hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were reading and watching movies. Pat was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying her hobbies all by herself and could often be found just reading or watching an old movie.

While thorough and measured in her approach to things, Pat often liked to do things rather than just think about them. In high school, she participated in gym class with her friends. She enjoyed the statistical data and the facts behind the sports. In this way, Pat was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite teams whenever she got the opportunity. Topping her list was the Chicago Bears football team.

An individual who respected and maintained traditional values, Pat’s faith was important to her. The compassion, consideration and sympathy that she showed toward others were evident in her personal beliefs. As a child she was a member of Ashland Christian Church of Christ.

Doing things to help others seemed to come naturally to Pat. She never set out to gain individual recognition, but the praise and accolades given her for her many and varied efforts throughout her life were well deserved. Something she treasured the most and that meant the most to her was being considered # 1 MOM by her son Dan.

Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with Pat had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that she was the trip planner. She would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations included Florida, Las Vegas, trips to Indiana and as a child her trips to Wauconda, Illinois, to enjoy the beaches and Tomahawk, Wisconsin.

Pat’s favorite pet was Cuddles, a sheepdog and collie mix, who was her best friend for over 16 years. Her family was rounded out by Chico, a toy Manchester dog, Rags, a mutt, and Reggae, a cat. Pat was as loyal to her pets as they were to her.

When Pat’s golden years finally arrived, she never moved - she loved living in Illinois. She was well prepared, had taken time to learn about her various options and chose her course wisely. She found new pleasure in being able to read more at her leisure and watch movies. During her golden years, Pat continued to stay in touch with her old friends while making new acquaintances.

On March 8, 2012 Pat died of lung cancer. She is survived by her loving son, Daniel, cherished brother, Jason and many cousins, nieces, nephews. Services were held at Chapel Hill Gardens South Funeral Home. Pat was laid to rest in Chapel Hill Gardens South Cemetery.

It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. Pat was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. She was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of woman to whom everyone was drawn. She was thorough and practical. Pat was very literal with her words. You always knew where you stood with her. SHE WILL BE TRULY MISSED.