Patricia Jane Pajak (nee Palachick) born on August 26, 1943 to Mary (nee Grodecki) and Anthony. Pat was raised in Nicetown, PA in St Ladislaus Parish. The family welcomed her brother, Robert (Godfather of Teresa) on March 19, 1946.
Patricia married John W Pajak (Frank and Stephie (nee Buziak)) on April 1, 1967 at St Ladislaus Church. After the Ceremony, Pat & John spent their honeymoon in Bermuda. In February of 1968, Pat & John welcomed their first child, Teresa, then their second daughter, Joan, in February 1969. In September 1970, their son, Paul, arrived, followed by the baby, Peter, in December 1972.
Pat attended St Ladislaus Grade School and Little Flower High School. During her grade school years, Pat and Bob danced at many Service Clubs entertaining the troops in and around the Philadelphia area. Patty participated in the Sodality of Our Lady Society where she met some of her best friends, Lorraine Gwiszcz (Godmother of Teresa) and the late Helen Gruss (Godmother of Peter). Little did she know, that she also met her future Father-in-Law, Frank, and Brother-in-Law, Joseph, (Godfather of Joan) while “working at” Friday bingo nites at St Ladislaus Parish.
Patsy spent most of her childhood summers with her Aunt Lottie & Uncle Zig in Shenandoah, PA. Pat learned the art of making apple pies with Aunt Lottie and working at the school and firehouse with Uncle Zig. She also enjoyed running and playing with their dog Bootsie up and down the hills of Shenandoah.
In High School, Pat joined the Glee Club and danced in many musicals and plays. Patty also began her preparation for the business world, by learning stenography, typing, and filing, which would also come in handy later on in her life.
After high school, Patty started working at General Electric as a secretary. While at “GE” Pat met many life-long friends, including the late Alice Wood, (Godmother of Paul). Also, Pat joined St Ladislaus choir under the direction of Leonard Michalski. There she met the late Eleanore Slomiana (Godmother of Joan), Helen Pajak (Sister-in-Law), and the late Edziu Polec (Godfather of Paul) and the late Raymond “Butch” Zielinski (Godfather of Peter).
During that time, Patty met John at St Ladislaus’ weekly choir practice. For many years, Patty knew most of the entire Pajak clan, Frank, Stephie, Joe and Helen, but she never met the “other member” of the family, John, because he was always “at a job” playing music. Once she met John, she knew he was the guy for her, and John fondly members asking Patty to be “his girl.”
In the years prior to their marriage, Pat and John and many friends, enjoyed trips “up the mountains” to Edziu’s chalet on Lake Henry, Sieniawa. After getting married, and as their family grew and grew, these trips to Sieniawa became the Pajak’s annual vacation getaway.
While her children were in grade school, Pat began volunteering in St William School Library, where she met some of her best friends, Helen Lou Mahoney, Marie Kelch, and Sister Frances Marian (Dorothy Tartar). Pat’s children remember large cookie cans of chocolate chips and bags and bags of homemade popcorn as Christmas presents for their classrooms. Mom made the best popcorn!
After her kids graduated grade school, Pat volunteered at her daughters’ High School, Saint Basil Academy. She worked in the kitchen and library, spending many hours nourishing the students’ minds and stomachs. Saturday afternoons were spent on trips to St Basil’s grotto filling up bottles of cold well-water to enjoy through the week. Mornings, during the school year- with one bathroom for everyone- were always a fun time, trying to get two girls ready for Basil’s and two boys prepared for Cardinal Dougherty High School.
Drill team, girl scouts and plays for the girls and band practice, baseball and musicals for the boys kept Mom busy and on her toes.
Soon the kids were done high school, each going in their own direction and career choice, but Mom was still the one with the calendars, schedules and planners everyone relied upon.
Mom got chills when Joan and Teresa took her and Dad to the house they were planning to buy. As soon as Mom stepped in the front door, she knew “this was it!” A new tradition was started when Christmas parties and picnics were now held at the “Girls’ House.”
In June of 2001, Paul married Veronica (nee Cloud) and began a family with her children, Christopher and Jessica. The following April, Pat & John’s granddaughter, Taylor Jade was born. Taylor became a frequent weekend visitor to Mom-Mom’s house and from the time she was born, she stole the hearts of the Pajak family.
Mom-Mom and Taylor laughed just by being in each other’s company, from the reading of joke books about the ‘blueberry and the elephant,’ to the playing of games and games of 7-8-9 and bingo. Taylor was Mom-Mom’s Pumpkin Pie and Mom-Mom was Taylor’s Sticky Buns.
Mom had great times on Girl’s Weekends with her three girls in Cape May, Reading and Hershey and enjoyed every minute of Sunday Dinners with Dad and her family. She took comfort in her prayers and conversations. Friends and family were so important to her, celebrating every occasion and accomplishment.
Pat & John celebrated 50 years of Marriage in April 2017 by renewing their wedding vows at St Ambrose Church followed by a small dinner with their family. Unbeknownst to Mom & Dad, the kids planned a Surprise party In June at the Girl’s house in Skippack. On Father’s Day weekend, at 1pm, a large cheer went up as Mom & Dad stepped out and into the yard. They were immediately surrounded by over 75 close friends and family and wished many years of continued wedded bliss.
In August, the Pajak Family was once again found at Lake Henry on vacation, fishing, swimming and enjoying each other’s company.
In September, Mom began to notice some shortness of breath and was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer in her lung. She began treatment with chemotherapy, but decided before Thanksgiving that she did not want to spend the rest of her days feeling ill.
Christmas, New Years and the SuperBowl found Mom at home with her family and friends, eating, drinking, and being merry, especially with the Eagles’ win. Also, now that the Phillies are in Spring Training, Mom said she was looking forward to the season to start.
Since Mom became sick, she often said Pete was her Super Man. Pete was her rock and she was continually grateful for his support.
When you think of Mom, please remember the good times, her smile, her laugh, her love of her family and friends. Think of the parties, celebrations and dinners, and how much she enjoyed playing cards, talking on the phone, and winning at bingo.
Think of vacations up the mountains and weekends at the Girls’ House, think of making potatoe salad and Thanksgiving dinner and hot dogs on the grill.
Mom would have wanted smiles not tears, laughter not crying and hugs and kisses not sadness. Celebrate her life and honor her memory.
John, Teresa, Joan, Pete, Paul, Ronni, Christopher, Jessica and Taylor thank you for all your love, support and prayers.
In lieu of flowers, in Honor of Mom, please donate to St Basil Academy’s Music Department at the following link: https://www.stbasilacademy.org/giving/donate-online/
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