Patricia G. Ewing

PATRICIA G. EWING, 82
Patricia Geraldine (Griffiths) Ewing, 82, of Rockford passed away Wednesday, February 11, 2021, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. Born February 24, 1938 near Firth of Forth Scotland, her family moved to Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England when Pat was two years old. Pat played field hockey and tennis as a youth. She studied at the Sorbonne in Paris before immigrating to Aurora, Illinois at the age of 20. A graduate of the Whitehall Secretarial College in Eastbourne, England, Pat was the Executive Secretary for the Chairman and CEO of Northern Illinois Gas Company. She married Walter Ewing, a widower with 5 children, in 1973. On retiring, the couple moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina, where they could enjoy the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and pursue a mutual love of gardening year-round. After several years they returned to Illinois and resided in Rockford, IL where they could be closer to children and grandchildren. After nearly 42 years of marriage, Walter passed away in 2015.

Pat loved her family deeply and was loved beyond words in return. Pat was kind, generous, loyal, loving, and compassionate. Pat enjoyed celebrating birthdays (she always had cake for the honoree) and milestones, such as weddings and new additions to the family. Pat skillfully handmade First Communion gowns and needlepoint Christmas stockings, priceless treasures.

Pat’s voice had a lilt that revealed her roots in Great Britain, and a gracious manner accompanied by a quick wit and fondness for a good laugh.

She was quite the card player and spent countless hours with family members playing game after game. Pat loved spending time in her garden and watching the beautiful birds in her yard. She was an avid dog lover and raised multiple golden retrievers.

As much as Pat loved her family and time spent with those special to her, she hated having her picture taken just as much, despite the insistence of a certain granddaughter. Pat was the greatest blessing the Ewing family could have asked for and will be missed by all those who were fortunate enough to know and love her.

Survived by children Tom (Pam), Dan (Denise), Nancy, Jim, daughter-in-law Cindy, grandchildren Rebecca (Chris) Brokmeier, Mike, Chad (Julie), Sarah (Jason), Matt (Rachel), Steve, and Greg (Brittany) Ewing, Erin (Dan) Duquette-Quandt, Megan Duquette (Aaron), Kara (Mitchel) Castel, Michael (Colleen) Duquette, Kelly (David) Gillman, and Julie (Josh) Parr, and Charles (Johanna) Frary, great-grandchildren Elena and Hannah Brokmeier, Emma, Olivia, and Nathaniel Ewing, Andrew, Matthew, and Amy Quandt, Peter Eberhardt, Carter, Scarlett, and Selena Castel, Abby Gilman, Hannah Parr, and Edward and Estrid Frary, sister-in-law Dorothy Griffiths, niece Allison, and nephew Justin, and their families, her dear friends Becky Hirth and Anita Wetzbarger, and her wonderful, caring neighbors. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Muriel Griffiths, brother James Anthony Griffiths, nephew Anthony Griffiths, and son David Ewing.

Arrangements are being handled by Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory in Rockford. At her request, there will be no visitation. A private family burial in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Aurora, will be held at a future date. Memorials may be made to Rockford Rescue Mission, The Seeing Eye - Guide Dogs for the Blind, or Salvation Army in Pat’s name. To express online condolences, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com.