Patricia J. Rogers

Patricia Joan Rogers (Patty Jo) of Rockford, IL passed away on August 29th, 2022 due to complications from Myasthenia Gravis at the age of 75. Patty was a patient and always loving mother, wife, musician, and elementary school teacher.

There will be a visitation at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Mulford Road on September 6th, from 5-7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday September 7th at 10am at Holy Family Church in Rockford, IL. Graveside ceremony will follow at Calvary Cemetery on West State Road/US 20.

Patty was born in Minneapolis, MN, the only child of James and Evelyn Sernett. She grew up in Montgomery and LeSure, MN and graduated from LeSure High School in 1965. Following in her father’s footsteps, but as Notre Dame was still a mens-only institution at the time, she attended St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN and graduated with a degree in music in 1969. She spent her entire career working in education. She taught music in Broward County, FL before moving to Rockford, IL to teach music in 1974. She received her Master’s in Education in 1988 and spent the remainder of her over 25-year career with Rockford Public Schools teaching elementary age classrooms.

On July 28, 1978, she married Gary Rogers at Holy Family Church in Rockford. Over her over 45 years as a member of Holy Family Church in Rockford, she volunteered in different roles over the years. She was a member of the choir, she delivered communion to the sick and bed bound, and she participated in weekly prayers for the sick.

In retirement, when her health permitted, she enjoyed traveling, especially to the Isle of Capri in FL. She enjoyed stories, including historical fiction and movies, and she enjoyed spending time with her six grandchildren.

Patty is preceded by her parents James and Evelyn (Vitha) Sernett. She is survived by her husband, Gary Rogers, her three sons, Scott (Kelly) Rogers of Roscoe, IL, and Kevin (Lauren) Rogers and Kyle Rogers of Middleton, WI, her six grandchildren, Lyla, Braden, Bennett, Hazel, Camryn, and Cole and her 14 brother and sister in laws and 23 nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation https://myasthenia.org/