Patricia I. Ireland

Patricia Irene Ireland, of Mankato, age 95, died on June 29, 2018 at Waters Edge Senior Living in Mankato, MN. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 6, 2018, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 632 South Broad, Mankato, MN with Father John Kunz officiating.   Visitation will be held from 9:30 – 11 a.m. Friday at the church.  Final resting place is at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Cemetery, St. Clair, MN.  Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Patricia was born on September 24, 1922 in Minneapolis, MN the 2nd of four daughters born to Philip R. and Irene (Church) King.  She was baptized and confirmed at Mapleton, MN.  She attended elementary school in Mapleton, MN and Bethlehem Academy boarding school in Faribault, MN; Good Counsel Academy her freshman year and three years at Loyola High School graduating in 1940.   Patty attended Mankato Commercial College graduating in 1941.  She worked for E.P. Seifert Insurance Agency from 1941 to 1943.  From 1943 to 1948 she worked for the War Manpower Commission and then for the Minnesota State Employment Service from 1948 – 1950.

Patricia was united in marriage to Lawrence H. Ireland on June 4, 1949 at SS Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Mankato, MN.  They shared 60 years together raising their family on their farm near St. Clair, MN until moving to Keystone Senior Living in January of 2007.  In 2017, she moved to Waters Edge.   Pat was a faithful member of Immaculate Conception Catholic church volunteering in the choir, teaching Sunday school and CCD. After moving to Mankato, she became a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic church.   She belonged to the Winona Council of Catholic Women; Blue Earth County Home Extension Service; Blue Earth County Historical Society and the PTA.   She enjoyed reading, working crossword puzzles, playing bridge, movies, music, dancing and traveling with her husband; and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She made every holiday special with carefully placed décor and plenty of food.  There was always an extra plate at the dinner table for anyone visiting.

Mrs. Ireland is survived by her loving family:  Kathleen (Joseph) Kauffmann of Waconia, MN; John (Kristi) Ireland of Hamilton, VA; Elizabeth (Rodney) Hedberg of Chisago City, MN; Susan (Ronald) Jordan of Mankato, MN and Paul (Beth) Ireland of Big Lake, MN; 16 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews and extended families.

Patricia was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence in 2012; parents, Philip and Irene King; sisters, Margaret McQuaid, Francis Clare Korth and Irene Briggs; brother-in-laws, Ralph Ireland, Sylvester “Red” McQuaid, Frank Korth and Milton Briggs; sister-in-law, Mary Ireland; niece, Mary Margaret Wiebold.; nephews, Michael Briggs and Stephen Briggs.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Waters Edge and St. Croix Hospice for the special care for our mother this past year.   Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association.