Patricia “Pat” J. Gilane

Heaven is filled with her Joy!

"Family Secrets" & My Memories: Pat took a social etiquette class that taught her the manners a young woman should have in the 1950’s. We laughed about it then, but over the years I really appreciated how she could handle social situations that made me feel out of place. Hopefully, some of it rubbed off on me. When I was 14, I was invited to attend the prom by a guy who was a junior. I was going to turn him down until Pat decided I must be crazy for not jumping at the chance to go. She was always a more “social animal” than me. She helped me borrow a formal gown, helped me get my hair done and all the other stuff to make me presentable. She knew a good idea when she saw one. She gave me good memories. When Lowell started visiting our Milwaukee house in 1957 and wanted something to eat, Pat always jumped at the chance to help the young man while giving me “that look” meaning I should be waiting on my own boyfriend. Lowell remembers her kind effort to this day. Did you know that Pat volunteered on a suicide phone hotline? She didn’t talk about it much, but it became obvious that she handled sad people differently after that experience by asking questions and giving gentle advice. Now nobody’s a saint, you know….so there are things that annoyed the dickens out of us. Like, how she could always analyze a situation and give directions – not that we appreciated being directed. But that girl sure could sort things out and often help us find our own good path. She was often sad and felt like she was unloved by her family…all of us at one time or another was on the naughty list with her. Being free spirits and children of free range parenting, we didn’t get it. She’d “write us off” and we’d just force her to continue to live with us the way we were --After we had some time in the “deep freeze”. This past year, she mentioned several times while we talked, “Do you ever think about which one of us is going to go first?” No, I wasn’t prepared to think about any one of us leaving the group. Then, she goes and does it first! Always a leader, that girl. God love her! May God find your talents useful in heaven, Pat. Remembering with love, Bobbi

Remembering Pat's kind acts and very practical approach to problems. We'll miss you dear sister. Thanks for sharing your life with us.

Heaven has a new Angel.

I remember as a kid the night we had dinner at Aunt Pat’s house in Whitefish Bay. On the way home our station wagon broke down on the freeway. We ended up having a fun sleepover at her house. As an adult I have many fond memories of our MAOW shopping adventures. We have a beautiful quilt hanging made by Aunt Pat we received as a gift. Looking at it will bring back all of the nice memories. You will be missed, Aunt Pat.

Aunt Pat touched so many lives with love. She was definitely the “Hostess with the Mostess” and knew how to focus on others in conversation and action. Fun memories of dinners and time spent in Whitefish Bay as a child, especially the night we stood on her front porch lighting candles for the Iranian hostages as she explained how we were experiencing history, and that one day, when the hostages were back home, they would know how the nation united in prayer for them. In that moment she taught me I was part of something greater than myself. Thank you Aunt Pat, you are forever in my heart.

My sister, Pat Gilane was an amazing woman in all that she accomplished and survived in life. She loved her family and gathered many friends along the way. As a young girl she was active in Girl Scouts. As a teenager she played the accordion. I am not sure, but she may have played a duet with our father who learned to play the instrument in his middle age. Even then she had the gift of hospitality and holding an interesting conversation, as anyone who has been a welcomed guest in her home would attest. She joined the Air Force and was stationed in the Philippines where her first child was born. She studied at Alverno College. For a time she conducted a secretarial business at home. When she went to work at AO Smith as a Keypuncher, she met Bob Gilane whom she married. Pat and Bob joined Silver Sneakers at the YWCA when they retired and made many new friends there. In retirement Pat became an accomplished Quilter. We often attended quilting classes together at WCTC. Pat and I, along with our sisters, Bobbi, Margaret and Susie often traveled to Madison, Wisconsin for the annual Quilt Expo. In 2004 Pat & Bob drove us sisters to the famed Paducah Quilt Show in Kentucky. On the ride home Pat encouraged us to each create a quilt block depicting what we experienced viewing so many winning quilts and learning new techniques from awesome teachers. We exchanged blocks with one another and each created our own memory quilt. Pat's block was the lovely Dogwood flower that we saw in Paducah. When I look at the Dogwood block in my wall hanging, Pat comes to mind. While we did not always agree as is sometimes the case with siblings and can get rather nasty causing us to not like each other, we always forgave and went on loving each other and being friends again.

To all of Pat's loved ones, especially Bob, you have my deep sympathy. Pat was a part of the Kabat cousins' lives from when she helped our Mom when we were little to the present when she supported our Mom in her aging years. God bless her and give her the joy and love she brought to others. Sr. Mary Kabat, Green Bay

My sympathy to Pat's family. She was a great support to my family when my Mom (her aunt) passed away. Keeping you in prayer. Fr. Bob Kabat, Green Bay

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.