Patricia Ann "Pat" Hall

Patricia Ann “Pat” Hall, On July 28, 2024 Patricia “Pat” Ann Hall died peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by family. She joined her beloved husband of 65 years, Bob, in heaven after a separation of five months. On August 12 1937, Walter and Phyllis (Helm) Thiel welcomed a baby girl and christened her Patricia Ann Thiel. She was named in honor of her grandmother, Ann Helm. Pat was an only child and grew up in the Austin area of Chicago and in Oak Park, Illinois. Her dad was a plasterer and renovator of apartment buildings and her mom worked part-time in advertising at the Oakleaf newspaper. As a child, Pat enjoyed playing outside and climbing trees with her best friend, Char. She considered herself a “tomboy.” Pat was a skilled ice skater and would often walk to the outdoor rink in the winter. The family took yearly road trips to visit family and travel throughout the country and they often invited Char to come along. Pat attended St. Paul Lutheran Elementary School and Luther Institute in downtown Chicago. For high school, she attended the newly built Luther High North. She was on the staff of the school newspaper and active in Religion, Latin, Drama, and Science clubs. She played tennis and intramural basketball and volleyball. “Pat” was described by her classmates as “stylish” and someone who “likes to gab.” She met Robert “Bob” Hall her sophomore year and they dated throughout high school until graduation in 1955. Pat was accepted to Valparaiso University, and, along with her high school sweetheart, Bob, she embraced college life, making many friends along the way. Pat and Bob spent so much time at each other’s dorm, they asked their parents for permission to marry after their junior year with the agreement they would finish college. On August 22, 1958 Pat and Bob got married and lived in a small walk-up apartment together while they completed their senior year. Pat was the first in her family to graduate from college. Upon graduation, they moved to Oak Park, and she was employed by Marshall Field’s Food Department. She also worked as the food manager for the Midway Airport’s Cloud Room Restaurant. When Bob decided to change careers and attend the seminary, they already had four children under the age of 6. She packed them all up and they moved to Springfield, IL. Pat supported the family while Bob attended divinity school for four years. Pat worked full-time throughout her life as a dietitian in hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. Her most challenging level of responsibility was as the food supervisor for six schools in Aurora, IN. As a working mom of five children, she was adept at balancing home and work responsibilities. As she neared retirement, she decided to scale back her work life and worked in part-time jobs at J.C. Penney’s and Walmart. In retirement, Pat volunteered at her church, Holy Cross, in the Altar Guild. She also participated in a community program to help at-risk elementary students to learn to read. She joined a gym and developed special friendships. She enjoyed participating in her grandchildren’s activities and traveled to visit her children across the country. As empty nesters, Pat and Bob enjoyed traveling in the U.S. and once to Germany. Pat loved to plant and nurture flowers. Every spring and summer she enjoyed creating flower beds and tending potted plants all around the house. She enjoyed basking in the sun and on family trips to her parents’ home in Florida reveled in days on the beach. Pat excelled at leading the family in celebrating holidays and whether it was Christmas, a birthday, or Thanksgiving or Halloween, you could count on her to organize activities, decorate the house, buy and wrap presents, and cook and bake holiday treats and meals. She made holidays a true joy! She taught her children to cook and bake, to clean, and to work in the yard. As a mom, she never wanted to miss a game, swim meet, band competition, or girl scouts/4-H outing. She was there to cheer and support. She encouraged independence in her children, but she was also there during times of trouble. She was not judgmental or critical; unconditional love was the norm. She enjoyed traveling and planned summer trips for the family full of fun activities. She fiercely loved her grandchildren and took part in their activities when she could. Finally, Pat loved and treasured her dogs, all Corgis, Megan, Jenny and Krystan. Pat is survived by her five children, Cheryl Hall of Lubbock, TX, Wendy Hall of Maplewood, NJ, Patty Benson of Lantana, FL, Craig (Denise) Hall of Rancho Palo Verdes, CA, and Debbie Gish of Carmel, IN. She has nine grandchildren that will treasure her memory as well, Jill, Cory, Jordan, Connor, Matthew, Zachary, Molly, Madeleine and Melat. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Dathan, Mila, Bronx, and Santi. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Phyllis (Helm) Thiel; husband, Robert “Bob” Hall; and son-in-law, John McCollum. A service to celebrate and honor Patricia’s life will be held Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. at Shirley Brothers Fishers-Castleton Chapel, 9900 Allisonville Road, Fishers, with visitation there from 3:00 p.m. until the time of service. A private graveside service will be held at Mount Emblem Cemetery, Elmhurst, IL, Thursday, August 1, 2024. To honor Patricia Hall’s memory the family suggests donations in her name to the following organizations: Holy Cross Lutheran Church https://hclcindy.org and/or ReadUp United Way of Central Indiana’s Literacy Initiative https://www.uwci.org/readup and/or Dementia Society of America https://www.dementiasociety.org

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Patricia Ann "Pat" Hall

August 12, 1937 - July 28, 2024