Patricia L. Willging

Patricia "Pat" Laverne (Lewis) Willging died unexpectedly at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, FL on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, at the age of 82. Pat was born on June 18, 1938, in Cedar Rapids, IA to James and Naomi Lewis. She was a graduate of Luther College and Northern Illinois University with degrees in school guidance counseling. As a student, Pat was a talented singer and an active member of collegiate clubs and organizations. In 1962, she married Thomas Willging, originally from Dubuque, IA, whom she met while they were educators at Freeport Junior High School. Over their 58 years together, Pat and Tom welcomed five children and 11 grandchildren into their lives and set about teaching them to be kind, caring, and accomplished individuals. Pat's children remember her as a loving and nurturing mother who encouraged them above all to be thoughtful, compassionate, and ethical in all of their pursuits. Pat began working for Freeport School District as a girls' guidance counselor in 1960 and served in a number of guidance capacities until she retired in 1999. She was a gifted counselor who touched the lives of thousands of young people during her extensive career, many through skillful one-on-one guidance and many more through the innovative prevention programs that she organized to encourage healthy living and positive behaviors. She was an exceptionally caring individual who was highly skilled at empathetic listening and was passionate about healing and bettering the emotional lives of those she touched - whether they were students, family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. Pat was energetically active in countless area professional and civic organizations, clubs and guilds, often serving in leadership positions. In retirement, she served as an active volunteer for Contact of Northern Illinois, continuing to be there to help those in need during crisis situations. Pat is survived by her husband, Thomas Willging; children, Michael (Elena) Willging of Hickory, NC, Pete (Lori) Willging of Freeport, IL, Ann (Geoff) Hobar of Hoffman Estates, IL, Timothy (Brenda) Willging of St. Charles, IL, and Sarah (Jason) Ruff of West Chicago, IL; and 11 grandchildren, Derek Willging, Justin Cox, and Daniel Willging; Ellie Willging; Nick and Andy Hobar; Laura (Caleb) Strand, Sarah and Hannah Willging; Nate and Naomi Ruff. She is preceded in death by her parents James and Naomi Lewis of Cedar Rapids, IA, sister, Doris Erlacher, of Cedar Rapids, IA, and brother, James (Connie) Lewis of Wayzeta, MN. A private service will be held for family members. A public celebration of Pat's life will be planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Contact of Northern Illinois at PO Box 83 Freeport, IL 61032 or by visiting www.nicontact.org. Please sign Pat's guestbook and share a remembrance at www.burketubbs.com.