‘Our friend Pat’ will be missed

By Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

Recently Chicago Lawn lost a longtime resident that many may have known, Pat Buckley. Presiding at her funeral, Father Homero Sanchez, pastor of St. Rita of Cascia Parish, referred to her so appropriately as “our friend Pat.”

Neighbors got to know her as she sat on her front porch on Albany simply from walking by and getting a friendly wave, eventually growing into a neighborly chat.

When Pat pulled into her parking spot and began unloading groceries, there never seemed to be a shortage of folks coming over to help. She used to say, “I don’t know how they know when I get home. It doesn’t take me that long to park.”

But let’s go back a little further. Maybe you saw her at the pow wows at Marquette Park. Her husband, Jack, was a leader of Cub Scout Pack 3600, then Boy Scout Troop 600 when their son, Sean, was a Scout and Pat was a big supporter and organizer of the Scout activities.

Over the years she served on many committees at St. Rita and was probably best recognized for her years as a faithful member of the parish choir.

Pat was known not just in our immediate neighborhood, but in neighboring areas and around the state, and in some circles across the nation. The Chicago chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was the first in the nation. She was a proud member of the DAR and was elected Regent (President) twice, once in the 1990s and again in the 2000s.

Jack was a Marine veteran and took part in and also led the Marine Corps League with Pat working by his side, quite often traveling back and forth to Springfield and Washington, D.C.

They were members of several VFW groups, volunteering their time on projects benefiting wounded and retired vets. It was just last summer Pat traveled down south to receive the gavel as State President of the Marine Corps Auxiliary.

At her memorial, Pat’s granddaughter commented, “In almost every club or committee she was on, she was eventually elected president or chairperson.” I think you might agree, her passing will leave quite a void in many circles.

This Saturday, June 18, Poetic Platforms comes to Marquette Park along with Singing Our Way Forward Karaoke. The People’s Stage Karaoke invites singers of all ages to come together to sing and share the music of our lives. The event begins at 11 a.m. by the fieldhouse.

Then later this Saturday, head over to the Chicago Lawn Branch Library, 6120 S. Kedzie, for a screening of the 2021 Columbia Pictures film Fatherhood with Kevin Hart at 2:30 p.m.

Mark your calendars for Tasting Summer on June 26 at the Monarca Event Room, 3300 W. 63^rd St., from 2 to 8 p.m. There will be a live DJ, vendors, drinks and food. This is an adults-only (21 and older) event. Entry is free. A tasting ticket is $10. For more information, call (773) 701-5000.

During the month of June at Nativity BVM Church, 2700 W. Lithuanian Plaza Court, the Litany of the Sacred Heart will be recited after the 8:30 a.m. weekday Masses and on Saturdays after the 4:30 p.m. Mass.

Remember the CARA Runs Marquette Park Crew has a group run on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. All are welcome to take part, including walkers. Meet at the park running track just east of Kedzie.

As we return to 1992, we are reminded once again that while some things change, some remain the same. Over at Eberhart Elementary School, students and staff were celebrating their third annual Drug Free Parade with each grade carrying a banner reflecting their feelings. Joining them in their march down 63^rd Street between St. Louis and Spaulding and back up 65^th was the Hubbard High School Band.

Also this past week in 1992, over on Central Park Avenue, Hubbard High School students were taking part in the yearly project of cleaning up alongside the Grand Trunk railroad tracks between 59^th Street and Marquette Road.

There were more answers than I expected to the question of the name of the eatery at 5733 S. Kedzie. Celebrating its 30^th year in business at that location, owner Craig Lloyd was holding specials all month long. Sharon D. was the first to come really close answering Nicky’s, which at the time was right next door. Miami Joe was the first to vote for TJ Michaels, and Sandy D. guessed Yankee Doodle Dandy. All were right there in the area, but the first one to identify Craig’s place as McDonald’s was Brad O.

We’ll be ending our visit to 1992 at the end of the month but this week, as long as we’re this far north, let’s hop in the car and go west on 59^th Street to see what kind of sales Tony DiNolfo is running at his Certified grocery store. Can you picture the name on his store?