Patricia O'Driscoll

Patricia "Pat" O’Driscoll, 81, of Madison, passed away peacefully on April 19, 2025, at Oak Park Place in Madison, Wisconsin. 

Born on July 29, 1943, in Chicago, Ill., Pat was the sole child of Geraldine and Clifford Case. Pat’s father died from complications of rheumatic fever when Pat was only 7 years old. Pat lived in Chicago with her mother, Geraldine, until Geraldine’s death in 1982. Pat was married briefly to Joseph O’Driscoll, with whom Pat had one child, Kevin Michael, on January 31, 1968. Kevin was Pat’s pride and joy (until her grandchildren came along years later). 

Pat worked for 30 plus years for the State of Illinois as a caseworker and as the manager of death benefits for those with no family. In the 1970s and 80s, she commuted daily to her office downtown. She was later transferred to the Humboldt Park office, only blocks from where she originally grew up. Pat was passionate about Chicago, her Humboldt Park neighborhood and her local parish, Maternity BVM. She especially loved celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at one of the city’s many Irish pubs. 

Pat’s Catholic faith played a central role in her life. She was accepted as an associate of the BVM Sisters in May 1998. In 1999, Pat decided to earn a college degree, and enrolled in the Lay Ministry program at St. Mary of the Woods in Terre Haute, Indiana. Her commencement ceremony in May 2005 was one of the proudest days of her life. 

Pat was lured to Madison in 2002 when Kevin and his wife Kelly announced that they were pregnant with their first child. She retired that year and bought her first home (on Wyoming Way on the north side). Pat was delighted that her first grandchild (Maeve) was a girl, having only had a son of her own. She babysat several days a week, and had her hands full when Michael was born in 2005. Pat doted on her two grandchildren, taking great delight in making them Halloween costumes, teaching them the basics of painting and drawing, and later, accompanying them on thrift shopping trips. 

Besides spending time with her grandchildren, Pat pursued her own interests after retirement. She was an active gardener and passionate watercolor artist, who enjoyed gifting her paintings to friends and relatives. She joined St. Peters Catholic Church, where she helped with the annual bazaar and knit many prayer shawls as part of the parish’s knitting group. She also connected with Madison-area BVM sisters and associates, with whom she developed close friendships. She was also friends with several wonderful neighbors on Wyoming Way, who kept a close eye on her until a series of strokes forced her into assisted living in July 2023. 

Pat is survived by her son, Kevin and his wife Kelly (nee Kinzel); her grandchildren, Maeve and Michael; her many parish and neighborhood friends; and by many members of Kelly’s extended Kinzel family, who lovingly embraced Pat as family for holidays and other gatherings. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Geraldine.

The family would like to thank the many caregivers at Oak Park Place and Agrace for their loving care and support to Pat during the final stage of her life.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, April 25, 2025, at St. Peter Catholic Church, 5001 N Sherman Ave, Madison, WI. Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until the time of Mass. A luncheon will follow at church. Burial will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in River Grove, IL.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Catholic Church, the BVM Sisters of Charity, or Agrace, in memory of Pat.


To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.

 Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

2418 N Sherman Ave

608-249-8257