Patricia Tobias

Patricia Lynn Tobias (Patty the cook) was born into life March 10, 1974 and into eternal life July 10, 2023. Patty began her young life in Pilsen attending many of the schools; kindergarten at St. Procopius, grammar school at Komensky now known as Manuel Perez, she then attended Holy Trinity graduating from primary school to Benito Juarez High School.

Patricia worked at various jobs at Mt. Sinai Hospital including Mail room, Physical Therapy clerk, Pharmacy runner to pay for her schooling. After High School she went to Harold Washington College.

Patricia took an interest in cultural studies, phycology, and cosmetology. She then decided to take her academic career to Young’s beauty school graduating as licensed cosmetologist. She worked at various salons including Heidi’s.  After working in the profession for a short time, she had gotten an allergic condition to the chemicals shampoos and dyes, even with gloves.

Pat would often say ” things happen for a reason” and her words proved to be prophetic. Her mother got sick having her first bout with COPD, and Pat was able to take care of her.  She also found time to become a Vista Volunteer, and she worked at Metropolitan Tenants Organization. she also organized many charitable events as well.

 Her mother had another setback even more serious; she had a stroke. Pat stepped in as Primary caregiver, physical therapist, and nurse for over 10 years. During this time she honed her culinary skills, as well as becoming a dog walker, to help supplement her income and give her some exercise.

Her cooking skills were widely known She baked and cooked for various functions including every bake sale at Holy Trinity Croatian church, she cooked for volunteers also, she cooked for functions affiliated with the church making over 100 individual pumpkin pies for the Thanksgiving Dinners, Baking Cakes for Our Lady of Guadalupe centerpieces at St. Procopius. Helping to cook and organize the 100^th Anniversary dinner at Holy Trinity, as well as baking for the Kermes, she liked watching and tried to learn how to roast lamb with the men at Holy Trinity. She Baked and cooked for Bishop’s, including our beloved Bishop Manz, priest, even for Cardinal Bernadine and Barak Obama.  She loved cooking for everyone especially the Ladies Social Club, the bake sales, monthly meetings, and holiday dinners. She smiled and kept cooking even though she had been battling cancer for nine years.

  Four years after Pat’s mother died, she found her soulmate and fiancé, Carlton McGuire.  They met on Facebook, began a whirlwind long-distance relationship that lasted until she passed into her eternal life.  Carlton proposed to Pat on Valentine’s Day and two weeks later, Pat was diagnosed with Cancer.  Because she loved him so much, Pat tried to break off the relationship because she did not want Carlton to hurt while watching her battle cancer, nonetheless he stayed strong with her, even when they could not be together.  Through the phone, Facebook, Instagram, and his ability to come visit Pat occasionally (due to his work as a truck driver) kept them together and their love strong until the very end.  After nine long years of fighting cancers, she went into home hospice and as she drew her last breath, her sister Sherry held one hand and Carlton held the other as they handed Pat into her Heavenly Father’s hands.

Pat is survived by her sister, Sherry Rontos, her brother in-law Paul Rontos, Carlton McGuire and family, Linda Hodul, Jane Cortes (Godmothers),  Joe Hodul, Dave Hodul, Adam Hodul and Juan Avelar God- Brothers and  many, many close friends and church family.

Memorial Service: Saturday August 19, 2023, at St. Procopius Church, 1202 West 18^th Street (Corner of 18^th Street and Allport Street) , Chicago, Illinois 60608. Family and friends will gather at 11:00 am until the start of the of Mass at 12:00 Noon which will be celebrated by Rev. Donald Nevins.

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