Cover photo for Patricia "Paddy" Schmitz Grady's Obituary
Patricia "Paddy" Schmitz Grady Profile Photo
1924 Patricia 2015

Patricia "Paddy" Schmitz Grady

March 28, 1924 — September 25, 2015

Patricia “Paddy” Schmitz Grady, 91, of Rockford, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and expert baker of cookies, passed away peacefully Friday, September 25, 2015. A former longtime resident of Belvidere, she was born March 28, 1924, in Rockford to Raymond H. and Elisabeth Stuckey Schmitz. Paddy graduated from Rockford West High School in 1941 and from the University of Wisconsin in Madison in 1945. She married William H. Grady on July 10, 1948, in St. Peter Catholic Church, Rockford. Survivors include her husband, William H.; three sons, William R. (Pamela), Timothy E. (Pamela) and John P.; two daughters, Ann (Charles) Bown and Maureen (Mark) Himmel; 13 grandchildren, Amanda K. Grady, Timothy W. (Rebecca) Grady, Paul R. (Jennifer) Grady, Matthew P. Grady, Erika K. Grady, Dylan P. Grady, Jordan M. Grady, Christopher J. (Carrie) Bown, Victoria C. Bown, Alexandra G. Bown, Claira W. Himmel, Natalie M. Himmel, and Margaret S. Himmel; four great-grandchildren, Hannah, Harper and Ronan Grady and Henry Bown; and her sister, Mary Lib (the late Eugene) Skerkoske. She was preceded in death by her parents and a daughter, Mary Elizabeth “Lisa” Grady. Paddy was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, a board member of the St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary in Belvidere and the ministry of care at St. Rita Catholic Church. She also was a member of the Rockford Garden Club, the Yard and Home Garden Club of Belvidere and had served on the Reunion Committee for Rockford East and West High Schools since the 1980s. Paddy also hosted large family gatherings into her 80s on the 4th of July and Christmas Eve. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m.to 11:45 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2., at St. Rita Catholic Church, 6254 Valley Knoll Drive, Rockford, followed by Mass at noon. Burial will be private. Arrangements by Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the Catholic Charities Immigration and Refugee Services, 6116 Mulford Village Dr., Suite 8, Rockford, IL 61107, or the Panhellenic Society of Belvidere, 11811 Pony Lane, Belvidere, IL 61008.

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Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, October 2, 2015

9:30 - 11:45 am (Eastern time)

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Service

Friday, October 2, 2015

Starts at 12:00 pm (Eastern time)

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