Patricia Gavigan

MADISON - At 8:13 am on a foggy Saturday morning, Patricia Ann Gavigan, age 76, a breast cancer and Alzheimer’s survivor ended her life journey surrounded by her family on December 12th, 2015, following a stroke she had in September of this year.

Patricia Ann McGilligan: “Pat”, “Trish”, “Mom”, ”Trisha”, “Patty”, “Patsy”, “Aunt Pat”, Tanta, “Grandma”; was born at 6:04 pm on April 26th,1939 at Madison General Hospital in Madison to John Edward McGilligan Jr. and Ruth Arlene Hommerstad.

Pat spent her younger years living in downtown Madison, attending St. Raphael’s school (class of 1953). Pat graduated from Madison West High School (class of 1957). After high school she attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she met her future husband Robert Gavigan. On January 20th, 1962, they were married at St. Raphael’s Church beginning their lifelong residency together in Madison.

Pat spent her life loving, caring, and giving to others. She cared for her children, she cared for her nephew’s, she cared for her grandchildren and she cared for all her friends. If you had a question, a problem, or just wanted to chat, Pat was always there at anytime, any place, for anyone.

As a child Pat spent many summers in Hayward Wisconsin at her parent’s cabin on the Chippewa Flowage. Pat attended Riverview School in Hayward for second grade. Pat loved fishing and would regularly take a boat out by herself and return with a stringer of crappies.

When her children were playing hockey with the South Side Hockey program, she had many roles. The term hockey mom was modeled after Pat. She was the registrar, secretary, treasurer, “south-side sissy”, Ice-Mice skating instructor, photographer, artist, cook, banquet coordinator, fundraiser, and more. Anything anyone needed, Pat was there. Even long after her “hockey mom” days were over, Pat took great care to preserve historic audio recordings she took that will help document one of the greatest periods of Hockey in Madison’s history. Pat enjoyed sewing, photography, skating (roller and ice), drawing, knitting, playing piano, gardening, snow, Christmas, yard work, crocheting, bowling, crafting, scrap-booking, and most of all, she enjoyed playing bridge with her card group friends. Pat especially loved cooking & baking and was never afraid of trying something new while also feeling that it was very important to preserve the traditional Irish, German, and Norwegian family recipes; making sure she passed them along to her children. Pat worked briefly at the Wisconsin DMV then focused on her “real career” of loving, caring, and giving to her family. Once the family had grown, she worked with her sister, son, cousin, and nephews at the family businesses:McGilligan’s and Stevens Design until her retirement in 2007.

Pat is survived by her husband Robert Dale Gavigan; sister Buffy Stevens; children, Timothy Michael Madison, Daniel Joseph (Kristin) Fitchburg, and Joseph Robert (Marilu), Albuquerque, 6 grandchildren: Kelly Christine, Mary Katherine, Timothy Micheal, Renee Elizabeth, Robert Patrick, Joseph John; her special nephews Bradley John and Christopher James Stevens; and her special dogs Buddy & Lily. She was preceded in death by her parents. The family thanks everyone who helped care for Pat.

A memorial service will be held at 7:00PM on Monday, December 21, 2015 at JOYCE-RYAN FUNERAL, 5701 Odana Road, Madison. A visitation will be held from 4:00PM until time of service on Monday at the funeral home.

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