Ellen Patricia Marry Hicks passed away peacefully, Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at Seminary Manor at the age of 101. Pat was born May 5, 1923, in Galesburg, Illinois to Tom and Helen Marry. She attended St. Joseph’s Academy, graduating in 1941. She married George R. Hicks on July 17, 1945. After 50 years of marriage, he preceded her in death on January 13, 1995.
Pat began working for Intra-State Telephone Company before she decided to stay-at-home to raise her two children. Later she worked keeping the books at Hicks Standard Oil.
She is survived by her two children, Mary Ann (Mike) McNeil of Galesburg and Tom (Sandra) Hicks of Wauconda, Illinois. She has four grandsons, Sean (Heidi) McNeil of Nashville, Tennessee, Zack (Hilary) McNeil of Olathe, Kansas, who called her grandma. Rob (Kristin) Hicks of Evans, Colorado, and Ryan Hicks of Denver, Colorado who called her Nanny Pat.
She also has four great grandchildren, Ava and Reese McNeil of Olathe, Carter and Greyson Hicks of Evans, who lovingly called her GG. She loved being Grandma, Nanny, and GG most of all.
There is nothing more important to her than her family. In her spare time, she loved doing for others, both family and friends. She loved cooking for others and was a fabulous cook. She loved to golf at Lake Bracken with her husband, George, after he retired. Pat enjoyed her coffee at Swedoughs and Innkeepers. She had many friends that she would take to appointments and errands. She drove until she was 95. Pat loved her new family at Hitchcock when she moved in there. To this day two friends have come to visit her on a set schedule each and every week. It takes a village they say. Billie and Tonya became her daughters. She never met a stranger and liked everyone she met.
And last but definitely not least she praised her caregivers at Seminary Manor. She loved the care, the food, and never missed exercise and therapy and going outside. They would bring her coffee in the morning when she woke up. Pat would always say she is so lucky. And the birds…. when she was in bed too weak to get up she looked up at Mary Ann and said did you feed the birds today. Her mind was sharp as a tack to the very end. Many say, “she was one in a million”. And a huge thank you goes out to Hospice Compassus for their care even though it was a very short time.
Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 am, Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 am at the church with Father Jeffrey Stirniman officiating. Pat will be laid to rest next to her husband, George at St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Community Treasures, where she volunteered for over 15 years. Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel are assisting her family with arrangements. Online condolence may be offered at www.h-p-w.com.
