Patricia Mary "Mary Pat" SLOAN, (nee Henzel), age 83. Beloved wife of the late Thomas M. Dearest mother of Thomas Jr. (Debbie), Kevin (Elizabeth), Brian (Kristine), Mary Kennedy (Jamie), and Patrick (Michele). Loving grandmother of Thomas III, Connor, Drew, Kaitlin, Avery, Molly, Bridget, Braydan, Dylan, Aiden, Liam, Brennan, Ryan, and Cayden. Dear sister of John Henzel (deceased)(Mary Beth, deceased), and Jean "Nick" Henzel (deceased)(Sally). Dear aunt and friend to many.
Mary Pat passed away at her home on Fri. Dec. 1. She was born in Garfield Heights, Ohio on March 18, 1940. She met her future husband Thomas Michael Sloan, at The Cayomaw (Catholic Young Men And Women's) Club. They married in 1968 and before his death in 2011, had been married 42 years. They settled in Parma Heights and joined St. Bridget of Kildare Parish where Mary Pat was an active parishioner for the past 55 years.
Education was a special priority for Mary Pat, both in her own life as well her children's lives. Her parents enrolled her in Saint Therese School followed by Marymount High School. Mary Pat graduated from St. John's College in 1961 with a Bachelor's degree in Nursing and then went on to pursue graduate level classes in education. After her five children were in school, she returned to John Carroll University in 1990 to complete her studies and obtain a Masters Degree in Education. Mary Pat and Tom gladly sacrificed throughout their lives to provide for optimal educational opportunities for each of their children. This shared commitment with her husband remained one of her proudest achievements, and she loved to repeat wisdom she learned from her father: "An education is one thing that can never be taken away from you."
Throughout her life Mary Pat consistently emphasized a theme of service. Her chosen career in nursing set the foundation for her vocation to assist others. As a young woman in the 1960s, she temporarily left her hospital roles to join Project Hope's retired Navy hospital ship on mission trips providing healthcare to local communities in Ecuador and Nicaragua. Returning to Marymount Hospital in Garfield Heights, she became a member of the nursing school's faculty and administration helping teach the next generation of caregivers. After dedicating time to her children as a homemaker, she returned to the workforce as a member of two non-profit organizations. First came her role as Project Director of Nursing Now, where she visited schools and conferences ensuring the best and brightest understood the satisfactions and rewards which could be realized as a nurse. (The recruit she was most proud of was her daughter, Mary!) Mary Pat finished her career as a parish nurse at her home parish, Saint Bridget of Kildare Parish, visiting "her seniors," where she was able to also provide greatly valued socialization as well as distribute Holy Communion to those who were homebound.
Mary Pat was an extrovert who never met a stranger; they were simply friends she hadn't spoken to yet. When you encountered Mary Pat, you found yourself smiling; she loved to laugh and was a natural at making you laugh. She loved to travel, including multiple trips to Europe and she never turned down an invitation to visit her out-of-town grandchildren in Nashville, Tennessee and Raleigh, North Carolina. She enjoyed supporting her grandchildren in the Cleveland area and out-of-state at hockey, baseball, football, soccer and volleyball games, although she was quick to say her favorite was basketball! She loved attending "Grandparents Day" at her grandchildren's' various schools. During the past ten years, Mary Pat looked forward to the bi-annual Sloan family vacation where she was surrounded by her children and grandchildren for an entire week of family fun.
Mary Pat's festive nature and fondness to entertain was continually on display at her home with decorations – inside and out – of the upcoming holiday or family member's birthday. Her most cherished holiday was St. Patrick's Day where she proudly celebrated her family's Irish heritage. Mary Pat's legendary annual St. Patrick's Day party was highly anticipated and attended by friends and neighbors, as well as current and former clergy from St. Bridget of Kildare Parish. The only stipulation to attend was Mary Pat insisted all guests had to wear "something green." Anyone who showed up without something green soon found themselves wearing a shamrock pin or a leprechaun hat.
Foremost in her life, driving these educational motivations, service activities, and social connections was her deeply rooted Catholic faith. She volunteered with many ministries, including a long tenure as a Parish School of Religion instructor. She was a proud member of the Associates of the Incarnate Word, which supports the Sisters of the Incarnate Word. Her desire to be a daily communicant provided her both the strength and positivity to selflessly always place others first. She will forever be remembered for her joy of life and her ability to always share that joy with all!
VISITATION, FRI. DEC. 8, 3:00 – 7:00 PM AT THE ZABOR FUNERAL HOME, 5680 PEARL RD. PARMA (BETW. SNOW & RIDGE). PLEASE MEET THE FAMILY AT CHURCH FOR THE MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL, SAT. DEC. 9, 10:00 AM AT ST. BRIDGET OF KILDARE PARISH. Interment, Holy Cross Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St. Bridget of Kildare Parish or to the Thomas and Mary Pat Sloan Family Endowment Scholarship at Incarnate Word Academy.