Patricia Rita Ray

CHANDLER—Patricia “Pat” Ray, age 83, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at her home. She was born on January 29, 1941 in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of John and Lottie (Hajduk) Bal.

Pat graduated from Woodward High School, class of 1959, in Toledo, Ohio. She was a good at math and secretarial skills. She worked at Toledo Trust Bank as a teller and had proficient bookkeeping skills. Pat married her beloved Harold “Hal” Ray in 1965. He preceded her in death, 2021.

She stayed in touch with her high school friends Gerry, Barbara, and Diane all her life. 

Hal and Pat lived most of their married life in Sylvania, Ohio. Pat was a stay-at-home mom and housekeeper. Hal was a police officer. For some years, Pat worked part-time as a bookkeeper at the Sisters of St. Francis Convent.

In 2010, Hal and Pat moved to the Phoenix area, where their son Frank and family also lived. They thoroughly enjoyed their retirement in Arizona.

Pat is survived by her two sons, Nicholas (Lori) Ray of Columbus, Ohio and Frank (Jennifer) Ray of Chandler, Arizona; her precious grandchildren Matthew, Megan, and Wynter; sister Randi Hajduk Thorson (David) of Cambridge, WI; sister-in- law Debbie Whiting of Toledo and several other nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, close cousins Robert and Sharon Zeberkiewicz, brothers-in-law Fred and Ron Ray, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins throughout the years.

Pat was born at home in January, 1941, and America’s involvement in World War II started when Pearl Harbor was bombed December 7, 1941. Her father was drafted into the Army towards the end of the war, and he was stationed in Japan for 3 years during the post-war occupation.

Pat grew up in the Polish, Catholic, working class neighborhood on Toledo’s north side. As a teenager, her favorite movie star was Sal Mineo, and one of the songs she liked was “A White Sport Coat (and a Pink Carnation)” by Marty Robbins. She loved Elvis and later Tom Jones, Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith.

When younger, she enjoyed dancing polkas, family holidays, vacations, and church events. As an adult, Pat was an excellent cook, baker, and knitter. She took cake decorating, jewelry making, and ceramics classes.  She filled a curio cabinet with her collection of pigs.  Other pastimes were puzzles, dogs, kids, soap operas, Sudoku, watching and attending football and baseball games. She was patient. She was kind. Pat would probably say that raising her boys and setting them up to be successful in life was her proudest accomplishment.

A memorial service will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1800 E Libra Dr., Tempe, AZ, 85283 on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 11:00 am.