Sister Patricia Willems, C.S.J.
Sister Patricia Willems, C. S. J., age 89, Beloved member of the Congregation of St. Joseph of LaGrange Park, celebrating 70 years of Religious Life. Loving daughter of the late Ferdinand and Margaret Willems (nee Brown). Devoted sister of the late Robert (Carina), the late Charles (Mildred) Willems, and the late Ruth (Robert) Cowdrill. Sr. Pat is survived by nephews Peter, Paul, John, and Robert Willems, and Michael and Brian Cowdrill, as well as niece Joan Willems. Sr. Pat taught for the Archdiocese for over 30 years including Mt. Carmel, Divine Infant, St. Francis Xavier, Alexine Learning Center, St. Mary’s and St. Cletus. She also served as a hospital chaplain, a spiritual director and an art therapist and instructor. Visitation 3 to 8pm with Funeral Liturgy at 6:30pm Thursday, April 13, 2023 at The Alexine Chapel at the Congregation of St. Joseph, 1515 W. Ogden Avenue, LaGrange Park, IL 60526. Interment 9am Friday, April 14, 2023 from the Chapel to Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to The Congregation of St. Joseph (address above). Arrangements entrusted to Hallowell & James Funeral Home at 708-352-6500 or www.hjfunerals.com
I will miss Sister Pat dearly. I was blessed to be able to attend Saint Francis Xavier School Kindergarten-8th Grade. Sister Pat was the art teacher at the school. In first grade I found out that we shared the same birthdate, that was special. I will never forget the pendant she gave me. It is to hearts tied together with a bow. Although semi-tarnished I still have it. We kept in touch over the years sending each other birthday and Christmas cards. When I moved away joined the Navy and got married I would return to Illinois as often as I could to visit family and she was always a stop on my list. I am blessed also to have several pieces of her art work displayed in my home. She did a chalk and water color drawing of me and my family (me, my husband, son & our dog). I also have 2-other pieces I display proudly. Sister Pat was a very patient teacher and I will never forget how she helped me make a frog out of clay, I was so proud of it and I think she was too. Rest in peace dear friend until we meet again.
When I was at Saint Francis Sr. Pat was my art teacher. I loved going to art class especially working with clay. I still have the clay items I made in the 1970s. She will be missed.
Mary, I’m Sr. Pat’s nephew and I might have fired some of your pottery. She had me come and help her one summer after school was out. I attended St. Cletus. My Mom was Pat’s older sister Ruth.
Sr. Pat was a chaplain at Palos Community Hospital for many years. What a comfort she was to our patients and to my family in time of need. God bless you, Sr. Pat. Rest in peace! Pam Erber, RN
Sr Ferdinand was my 1st grade teacher and I remember her mom & dad came to visit class one day (1965) and I was so shocked to know a nun could have a mom and dad!! On another day she pulled up her white bandeau (hard part of her veil) that pressed on her forehead. As I watched her rub her forehead I silently thought ‘that must really hurt’. She smiled at me and said ‘it doesn’t hurt that bad’. From then I thought nuns could read your mind!! Later when in High School, I worked in the Kitchen of OLB (Our Lady of Bethlehem) and eventually worked at the switchboard. I saw Sr Pat all the time and she was always smiling and so pleasant. She was such a joy and the picture you have here is exactly how I remember her.
Sister Ferdinand was my first grade teacher at St. Francis Xavier, and has been remembered since then as my favorite teacher. I recently came across a newsletter from Sisters of St. Joseph (1996) in a collection of old papers. Sister Pat and her art are featured, and I learned of the long history of the religious order – founded in France in the 1600s – and that the first six sisters instructed disadvantaged women in the art of lacemaking there. Sister Pat’s creativity in the art program of our classroom brought me tremendous joy.
Sr. Ferdinand was my first grade teacher at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Melrose Park, IL. I remembered her fondly as a sweet, young nun who was always patient with us kids. It was not until MANY years later that she and I re-connected at a sidewalk Art Faire and I found out how talented an artist she was. I proudly display one if her watercolors in my home.