January 5th, 1934 - May 5th, 2023
Patricia Anne (Walther) Mason
It is with great sadness that the family of Patricia Anne (Walther) Mason, 89, announce her passing on May 5th, 2023 at White Oaks Assisted Living Residence in Lawton, Michigan. Patricia was born on January 5th, 1934 in Chicago, Illinois to Peter C. & Angela M. (Bartelli) Walther. Patricia was a 1952 graduate of Hirsch High School, Chicago, IL where she was an active participant in student council, choir and the swim team. She attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI for two years before marrying James S. Mason on October 6, 1956 in Chicago, IL. From this union five children were born with one son dying shortly after birth. Pat and Jim moved from Portage, MI to Big Cedar Lake in Marcellus, MI in 1967.
Patricia was a longtime active member of Saint Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church in Marcellus. She enjoyed singing in the choir and teaching catechism classes. She focused much of her attention on being a stay-at-home mother and raising her children, but once the youngest started elementary school she started substitute teaching in the Marcellus School District and resumed college classes where she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree from WMU in 1974.
Pat loved teaching and was hired as a full-time teacher in Marcellus in 1975. Her passion allowed her to teach 3rd through 6th graders, with her final years focusing on the Junior High age group. She enjoyed sponsoring the ski club and various other school activities. She also devoted much time and energy into writing grants for various school projects which ultimately led to improvements around the Jr High building or aided the community residents with leaf raking and yard cleanup.
Pat and Jim started spending the winters in Green Valley, Arizona once Pat retired from teaching in 1993. They loved the dry heat and moderate temperatures that the desert winters provided with Jim enjoying golf and Pat spending time volunteering and organizing neighborhood block parties. After Jim’s passing in 1998, Pat continued hosting family and friends at her Arizona retreat for another 20 years.
In 2014, Pat and a friend from 60 years prior reconnected, dated and were married. His name was Michael H. Sweeney and they enjoyed 4 years together. Michael passed in December of 2018 and shortly thereafter, Pat moved back fulltime to her Cedar Lake home to be closer to family and friends.
Pat will always be cherished for her love of family and friends. She had the strength and gift of hospitality and drawing people together. She loved opening her home to those she held dear and was eager to teach the next willing person how to water ski or sail. She especially looked forward to hosting an end-of-school-year party for her students at Cedar Lake.
Our family is comforted and rejoices in the knowledge that Pat recently received the gracious (Ephesians 2:8,9), unmerited (Romans 4:4,5) gift offered by God through faith alone (Philippians 3:9) in her Savior, Jesus Christ (John 3:16) and became a born-again believer (John 3:3; Acts 4:12). In this we look forward to a glorious reunion with her and our Abba, Father in Heaven.
Surviving are Pat’s four children, James S. (Jessica) Mason of Portage; David L. (Christy) Mason of Marcellus; Ross A. (Claire) Mason of Escondido, CA; and daughter, Pamela J. (Bill) Winke of Solon, IA; four grandchildren; Jordan, Shania, Drew and Maddie; one brother and sister-in-law, Peter C. and Mary Ellen Walther of San Diego, CA; one brother-in-law, Brad Bomba and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding Pat in death were husband, James S. Mason; husband, Michael H. Sweeney; one infant son, Anthony John Mason; her father and mother, Peter C. Walther and Angela M. Walther; and sister, Rita Bomba.
Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will take place in late July, 2023. Additional details will be posted on the
https://www.forevermissed.com/patricia-mason/visitors memorial website where you are invited to share a favorite memory or tribute to Pat.
Memorial gifts may be directed to Heifer International (
www.heifer.org) or Alzheimer’s Research (
www.alz.org). Arrangements were handled by Avink, McCowen, Secord Funeral Homes and Cremation Society.
