Obituary of Patricia Ann Chelsky

Patricia Ann Chelsky

Saginaw, Michigan

Patricia Chelsky passed away on December 7, 2023 at Holland Farms in Norwalk, Iowa after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Patricia Ann Malott was born October 30, 1938, in Saginaw, Michigan to Margaret (Osterman) and Leonard P. Malott. The youngest of seven children, Patsy, as her family called her, was doted on by her older siblings, who included her in outings with friends and taught her swear words. 

Pat graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1956, though she spent her junior year at Saginaw High School after a dispute with a St. Mary’s nun. Pat attended Mary Grove College in Detroit, where she met Tom Chelsky, a quiet, yet fun, University of Detroit engineering student. Pat graduated in the spring of 1960 engaged to Tom, and they married on January 7, 1961, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Saginaw.

Pat and Tom welcomed children, Mary Pat (M.P.) in November 1961, Mark, in November 1962, and Julie, in March 1965. Pat served as a home room parent, led Mark’s Cub Scout troop, and was elected the first female president of St. Stephen’s Board of Education. She embraced the ‘women’s liberation’ movement and was passionate about women being treated equally in the workforce and in her faith. She had a close circle of friends with whom she enjoyed drinking wine and working to solve the world’s injustices. Pat enjoyed yearly family vacations at Glen Lake with the Heringhaus family. She loved to garden and spent many hours tending to her expansive home garden. She was especially proud to have attained her Master Gardener certification.

Pat obtained her master’s degree in family studies from Michigan State University in 1979. She worked at A Perfect Place (a domestic violence shelter), Child & Family Services, and Midland-Gladwin Community Mental Health Services. While at Midland-Gladwin Community Mental Health Services, Tom developed Parkinson’s disease and Pat was his primary caregiver while working full-time until he required constant care.

After retiring, Pat enjoyed many years wintering in Florida and taking several European trips with Dr. Bob Toteff. She enjoyed volunteering at the East Side Soup Kitchen, cultivating a garden plot at the Saginaw Zoo, and found great joy with her prayer group.

Surviving Pat are her daughters, M.P. (Mary VanderLugt), and Julie (Harry Matternas); her daughter-in-law, Katie Chelsky; six grandchildren: Christi (Kolin) O’Brien, Conner (Amy), Riley and Jack Chelsky, Matthew (Tori), and Maggie Matternas; two great-granddaughters, Quinn and Rory O’Brien. Also surviving are two brothers: Len and Jim Malott; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom; son, Mark; siblings: Maggie (Don) Dubay, Chuck (Ruth) Malott, Kate (Ted) Vlassis and Joan (Tom) Schoen; four sisters-in-law: Jean and Sara Malott, Marcele Kulka, and Maryellen Chelsky; a brother-in-law, Bob Kulka; as well as nephews and niece: Dan Malott, Teddy Vlassis, Bob Dubay, and Sharon Rohde.

FUNERAL: A funeral liturgy will take place at 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 25, 2024 at St. Dominic Parish – St. Stephen Catholic Church, 1310 Malzahn St., Saginaw, MI 48602. Family and friends will gather at the church on Monday, March 25, 2024 from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass. Private burial will take place at St. Andrew Cemetery.

MEMORIALS: Memorial contributions can be directed to the Saginaw East Side Soup Kitchen, (www.eastsidesoupkitchen.org) or EveryStep Hospice (www.everystep.org/donate). Arrangements have been entrusted to the Deisler Funeral Home, 2233 Hemmeter Rd., Saginaw, MI 48603. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at the church or through www.DeislerFuneralHome.com