Obituary

Patricia A. Kaduk
May 31, 1931 ~ November 25, 2020 (age 89)
Provided by Burns Mortuary of Pendleton

KADUK PATRICIA A. KADUK (nee Getts) – 89 a resident of Pendleton, OR and former resident of Lyndhurst, OH, died peacefully at home on November 25, 2020. Dearly beloved wife of Edward (predeceased), father of James Kaduk (Catherine), Mary Ann McConaughy (Jerry, predeceased), Jean Kaduk-Gallagher (Tom) and Theresa Kaduk Calvert (Rick), grandmother of Anne Kaduk (Peter Wruck), Ben Kaduk (Cathy Zhang), Katlin Calvert, Robert Calvert, Lauren MacGregor (Jonathan) and Tanner McConaughy (Molly), and great-grandmother to three. Patricia was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Pat was about nine years old when her mother received United States citizenship, her father left his daughter and wife, and the United States was engaged in World War II. Growing up as an only child, she demonstrated responsibility early, which led to frequent visits to help her aunts watch over cousins: living on a farm when some cousins were born, babysitting many others for shorter time periods. Pat took a leadership role for her school during the World War, listening to the public broadcasts so the school could be alerted for emergencies. She also learned to knit, making squares that contributed to blankets for soldiers. With a passion for reading, she made frequent visits to the library. She enjoyed attending Notre Dame Academy, grades 7 -12, graduating in 1949. Pat’s mother remarried in 1948 and they moved to East Cleveland. After high school, while working for General Electric as an x-ray laboratory technician, she met her lifelong love, Edward Kaduk. Following a brief courtship, they married in 1951, and within a period of 5 years, they had four beautiful children. Living in Cleveland suburbs, mostly Lyndhurst, Ohio, Pat took on the role of housewife and mother, sewing most of her children’s clothes, making quilts, knitting afghans, keeping in touch with a wide range of relatives, being a good neighbor, and entertaining family, all while developing a devout Catholic family. She was known for her outstanding, innovative baking and cooking, hosting delightful family gatherings as well as delicious meals. When her stepfather passed, Pat and Ed cared for her mother. In 1992, when all four children were college graduates and employed, Ed and Pat started a new chapter, moving to Pendleton, Oregon, to be closer to their daughter, Theresa. Pat’s sewing took on an artistic flair and she began a productive career making quilts for the St. Mary’s Outreach Store and for family while enjoying life with Ed. For many years, she would produce more than 50 quilts a year! They did some traveling to visit family and friends. She did genealogy, gathering information from birth, death, and veteran’s papers. Making friends as a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, she also kept in touch with relatives, former neighbors, and classmates. The postal clerks all knew her because her children and grandchildren benefitted from her cooking and sewing talents even though most lived in other states. Throughout her life, a quiet, pleasant person, devoted to her family and the Catholic faith, she cared more about others than about herself. Her medical staff identified her as the “sweetest, dearest lady,” easy to love, but also indicated she was a “tough lady with a lot of spunk”: Pat calmly regained walking ability after breaking her hip, managed to care for her husband in his declining years and later lived alone in her home with seriously limited eyesight and hearing with the help of her daughter - except for her last few months. Her actions make it easy to see why she was dearly loved and respected by family, by those who worked or cared for her and why she was always considered a wonderful neighbor or friend. She will be greatly missed.