PATRICIA ANN RUSSELL

Patricia Ann Russell, 81, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, at her home near Paw Paw Lake where she was cared for by family and Hospice, living out her final days on her own terms. No more restrictions. No more medications. As many Cokes as she could drink every day (which was a lot!), and plenty of popsicles.

She is survived by her sisters, Mitzi (Willie Haynes) Jones of Colorado and Sandra Krugh of Michigan; three of her children, Teresa Smithers, Donna (Henry) Stephens, and Steve (Leia) Smithers; 15 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren, along with a host of friends and extended family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, three husbands, a grandson and one daughter, Rita (Mark) Collins.

Pat was born in Benton Harbor on March 17, 1940, the second daughter of Donald and Ruth Mensinger. As a child, Patty loved riding her bicycle and roller skating. She dreamed of running an orphanage when she grew up. This came to pass when her husband died in 1961, leaving her widowed at 21 with four children under five. Although she eventually re-married four times, with surnames of Essig, Grabowski, Knapp, and Russell, divorce or death left her living her days alone and Bill Smithers remained the love of her life. Her last wish was to be buried with him.

Despite being married five times, Pat looked at the world with the simplicity of an 11-year-old and spoke her mind with the loud honesty of a child. She made everyone around her laugh, since at two-years-old after searching for Easter treats, she angrily proclaimed, “I can’t find the damn basket!” She loved playing games, working crossword puzzles, and eating candy… and peanut butter and chocolate… lots of chocolate!

Tired of snow, she bravely moved her children to Texas in 1971, changing all their lives, and then returned to Michigan in 1993 to care for her aging parents. After they passed and she retired, she worked as a caregiver for other elderly until she suffered a stroke and became in need of care herself. Even then, she preferred giving care rather than receiving it.

Pat Russell has been cremated. A memorial for her will be held in the chapel at North Shore Memory Gardens on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and bring their memories to share.