Patricia Foster (née O'Reilly) was born Tuesday, October 29, 1940 in Columbus, Ohio .
she died Thursday, February 20, 2020. her recorded age was 79.
Patricia Foster, age 79 of Columbus Ohio, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, February 20, 2020. She was born to the late James and Hilda O’Reilly on October 29, 1940.
Patricia attended Worthington High School and graduated in the class of 1958. She went on to become a nurse's aide for many years at a nursing home in Worthington Ohio. Despite her hectic nursing schedule, Family and friends were her passion. Her family was always a very large part of her life. She grew up very close to her cousin’s Walter O’Reilly and Johnny O’reilly. The three of them were darn near inseparable, and from her stories they often got into mischief together when they were younger. This relationship lasted into adulthood. Somewhere along the timeline she was introduced to the man she would spend the rest of her life with, James Foster.
Once Patricia or as most people knew her Pat, met James (Jim) their love story began and never stopped. Jim and Pat were absolutely attached at the hip, but in a good way. They did everything together except when they had to separate to go to work. They eventually had a son and Pat had children from a previous marriage. They all would come to live on East Kanawha in Clintonville. They saw some hard times while in this house, but their love never stopped not even for the blizzard of 78. Then at some point they moved the family to Belden Road in the Northland area. Jim and Pat saw some rocky moments at this stage of their lives together with some family struggles. Kids sometimes rebel more than we want them to. But through thick and thin Jim and Pat’s candle never wavered it seemed to just burn more brightly. Pat’s two oldest children grew old enough to fly away from the nest, and her youngest was still living at home with them. Eventually this too changed and he also grew old enough to spread his wings into his own life away from home. Enter Shannon, whom Pat babysat from a very early age. Shannon now an adult herself moved in with Pat and Jim and grew very close with them becoming an extended member of the family.
Pat and Jim’s love grew and grew especially when they were in their senior years. They were so cute together, going after ice cream in the summer months. Tending their garden. Jim tinkering around the house on the various things Pat would ask him to attend to, and some things he just created out of thin air for her, Pat knitting a blanket for a friend or family member, cooking in the kitchen which was one of her passions. She loved to cook!! Everyone in the family from a young age figured out that she would try a new recipe or concoction and if it was really good, you had to tell her it was not so tasty or else you would never see it again. If it was really good, it was sure to be one that Pat wouldn't like and would literally never cook again.
Never have we seen any two people so in love than Pat and Jim. Then suddenly tragedy stuck when Jim became ill and quickly passed away on March 28, 2016. This was a turning point for Pat who had already survived a battle with Lung Cancer and was diagnosed with COPD. The love of her life, partner in crime, buddy and all-around best friend of 44 years of marriage was suddenly taken from her. She had to move to a strange new environment on the East side of Columbus. An area foreign to her, but she did it with the help of family and Shannon who was as much a part of the family as any of them. Shannon made living in her home on Clyde Place a possibility as she helped immensely around the house with everything that Pat had trouble doing as she got older and frailer. Patricia stayed true to her core beliefs of family first, always and made her children and several grandchildren her priority up until the day she passed. Patricia was a fighter and fought her disease till the end. Even in her last few days her family had to question if she was going to somehow still make it home. Patricia is survived by her daughter Patsy (Mike), sons James (Sandy) and Patrick (Hilary), grandchildren Heidi (Brad), Lisa, Courtney, Liam, Carrigan, Gray and niece Katie. Special mention to her beloved dogs Tank and Tamale that she loved so much.
There will be a Memorial service in honor of Patricia on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at St. Michael Catholic Church at 5750 North High St. Worthington, OH. 43085 at 1:00 PM.