Patricia M. Hammer, passed away peacefully in Chicago on January 10, 2024, at the age of 100. Born October 9, 1923 in Chicago, IL, and longtime resident of Des Plaines and McHenry, Il, Pat was the beloved wife of the late Donald W.; devoted mother of David (Alexandra), Kathleen (Michael) Roche, Donald (Sheryl), Lauri (Thomas) McNulty, and the late Michael; grandmother of twelve and great-grandmother of twelve. Predeceased by her parents William and Frances Hergenrother and brothers William (Cathy) Hergenrother and Thomas (Emily) Hergenrother.

She was raised in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago, attending St. Laurence Catholic school. She graduated from Loretto Academy and spent two years studying at the University of Chicago. During the war, she was a lab technician helping find drugs to treat malaria and worked as an admin with the Air Force. She met the love of her life, Donald Hammer during this time and after Don returned from the war they married on May 18, 1946, at St. Laurence Catholic Church.

Living on the northwest side of Chicago, they soon moved their growing family to Des Plaines. She was a great mom and much enjoyed entertaining family and friends in their beautifully decorated homes. She was a good cook and also a very talented seamstress, making many of her own and her daughters' clothing. As a working mom, she was a business office manager for the local phone company.

After she and Don retired, they moved to Whispering Oaks in McHenry, IL in the 70s. They loved the community, and she became active at The Church of Holy Apostles as a lector and member of various clubs and committees. She also helped manage the Whispering Oaks Community Center, organizing events, bridge competitions and fundraisers.

She was a keen competitor, being expert at bridge, Scrabble, crosswords and many card games. A great reader of fiction and especially history, she was quite interested in genealogy. She and Don traveled about the United States and they would just love to get in the car and "take a ride" on the back roads of northern Illinois and Wisconsin. Sadly, her wonderful Donald passed away in 2005 after a 59 year long, loving marriage.

In her 90's, she moved back to Chicago staying active and involved at the assisted living communities of Norwood Crossing and The Pearl of Montclare. She helped found the Poetry Club at Norwood, reading her favorite poems – those written by her late husband. Until just weeks before her peaceful passing, she was still doing her crosswords and playing Bingo. Much loved by her long-time friends there and appreciated by the staff for her graciousness and brilliant smile – she will be missed. The family would like to thank the staff members at Norwood Crossing and The Pearl of Montclare for their loving care of our mother in her final years.

Visitation will be at 9:00 am, Friday, February 9th followed by a 10:00 am Memorial Mass and Interment at The Church of Holy Apostles, 5211 Bull Valley Rd, McHenry, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Norwood Life Care Foundation in Patricia's memory.