Patricia "Patti" Melzer has had a lifetime of peace and love, celebrating life each day.  Loving wife to Dave, mother to Heather (Gerard) Baum, Courtney Melzer, and Teresa (Sarah) Melzer-Hire, grandmother to Ethan and Olivia Baum, Miles Melzer-Haberman, and Leona and Theodore Melzer-Hire, sister to Brenda Sernek-Valadez, Christine Marmol, Pam Marmol, Pamela Romano, and Rodney Sernek, daughter of Bonnie Mejia and Richard Sernek, aunt, cousin, and friend  to many.  Patti nurtured joy and discovery in many as a tireless worker for peace, youth minister, retreat coordinator, care giver, gardener, and artist. Her bright light brought happiness to everyone she met with her genuine smile and concern.

While Patti loved Chicago, she treasured nature.  She created a backyard oasis raising wildflowers and butterflies teaching children about wonder, beauty, growth and change.  A beautiful person inside and out, her welcoming presence led to friendships that will go on for eternity.  Patti could best be understood as a passionate person who yearned to be in relationship with each person God put in her life.  She has left her fingerprints on our hearts forever and will be profoundly missed.

She will be waked on Monday Dec.17th from 2 to 9 p.m. at Cooney Funeral Home, 3918 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago. Free additional parking is directly across the street on Irving Park at "Meeting Place of the Church." There will be a viewing at the funeral home on Tuesday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. followed be an 11 a.m. Mass of the Resurrection at St Viator Church, 4170 W. Addison St. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness at www.metavivor.org. For info 773-588-5850 or  www.cooneyfuneralhome.com.