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Patricia Sircy (Patricia Sircy / July 2, 2012) |
HARRODSBURG — Patricia Mary Sircy, 81, of Harrodsburg, Ky., died Friday, June 29, 2012, at home on her beloved farm after a two-year battle with health issues.
Born Sept. 11, 1930, in Milwaukee, Wis., as the only daughter of Joseph G. and Katherine L. (Schneider) Struve, Pat married Hubert E. Sircy Jr. (“Junior”) on June 17, 1950, a marriage that lasted until his death in 2004 and that produced seven children. While excelling in her role as wife and mother, Pat lived a life dedicated to things spiritual, educational, creative and community-focused.
She was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libertyville, Ill., for 25 years, and St. Andrew Catholic Church in Harrodsburg, Ky., for 33 years, serving on the building committee that oversaw the completion of the current St. Andrew complex. Pat had a deep, abiding faith in God that she shared freely with her family and all in the community with whom she came in contact.
Education was important to Pat, who attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison and Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill. She was active in PTA for the 34 years her children were in primary and secondary school, and was a driving force behind the Mercer County (Ky.) Senior High School Academic Excellence Committee. In everything from the varied books she read to her ability to solve the most difficult crossword puzzles, she instilled in her children and grandchildren a love for learning that has endured to this day.
Pat’s creative ability was manifest in a number of pursuits. She invented an eyeglass repair device that was featured on QVC, aptly named “Nu-Screw,” which replaced the screw that frequently falls out of a pair of glasses. She served as CEO of Sir-C, the firm that manufactured the Nu-Screw.
Her skills in a variety of crafts was legendary — Pat excelled in knitting, crochet, sewing and upholstery, and added basket weaving and chair caning to her repertoire in recent years. She found a very personal outlet for her creativity by making unique Christmas ornaments for her children and grandchildren each year from 1975 through 2010.
Photography was a favorite pursuit, and Pat was an avid student and exemplar of the art, with two of her photos featured at the University of Kentucky Department of Architecture. Appropriately, the two photographs were of the oldest and newest churches in Mercer County. She was a gifted artist in the medium of greeting cards, selling her horse-themed hand-crafted works nationally and having them featured at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
As a calligraphy expert, Pat was called upon to prepare many wedding invitations and lettering for other important documents. Not stopping with the use of her hands, Pat recorded several children’s stories on tape that were distributed regionally.
Moving to the farm in Harrodsburg was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream of Pat and Junior, who shared a love of horses. It was there they raised 15 Thoroughbreds and Arabians. She was an expert English rider, so much so that she gave lessons when the family was in Libertyville.
Pat loved to see things grow, so one year she dedicated a portion of the farm to raise bell peppers, and in so doing she became the primary source of this vegetable for various outlets in Mercer County.
Pat was incredibly active in her community. She was a member of the Countryside Manor Women’s Club in Libertyville. When the family moved to Harrodsburg, she volunteered at the Red Cross Blood Bank and served as the president of the Haggin Memorial Hospital Auxiliary for two of her 14 years of service to the auxiliary. As the Haggin Memorial Hospital Gift Shop Manager for 13 years, Pat oversaw a major remodel and modernization of the gift shop.
Her love for the community caused her to get involved in the Mercer County Fair, serving in the secretary’s office for 29 years. She loved Harrodsburg and wanted all newcomers to feel welcome, which made her a natural in working with Welcome Wagon for many years. She also enjoyed her stint as a “food sample” lady at the local Gateway Supermarket.
Pat’s community focus included a desire to get involved in the political process. She was elected as a delegate to the Republican State Convention, and served for 20 years as an election sheriff for the polling station on Bohon Road just down from the farm.
Pat leaves behind one brother, William Struve (Lacey Ann) of Wilmington, N.C.; two daughters, Kathi Sircy (David Wright) of Des Moines, Iowa, and Karen Sircy of Norfolk, Va.; five sons, Joseph of Cary, Ill., James of LaTuna Canyon, Calif., John (Debbie) of Paducah, Ky., Jay (Tina) of LaTuna Canyon, Calif., and Justin of Burbank, Calif. Grandchildren include Judd, Jacob, Jonathan (Britt), Elisha (Rachel), Asher and Kayla Sircy, Kendra (Eric) Stone, Khyl (Ryan) Berndt, Kaitlyn, Briana and Arthur Wright, Bo (Samantha) Stephenson and Roni Rae (Chris) Foy; as well as seven great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, Joseph G. Struve.
The family would like to extend special thanks for the love and care given to our mother by Billy and Shirley Taylor, Raul and Kathy Ledesma, Joann Martin, Judy Joyce, Noreta Royalty, Dr. Richard Dartt and the people of Harrodsburg who have shared her life here for 33 years.
Services will be at St. Andrew Catholic Church, with visitation 9-10:30 a.m. July 7, 2012, and the funeral Mass to follow at 11 a.m.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.ransdell funeralchapel.com.
