In Memory
Patricia R. (Baumgardner) Rogers
August 3, 1932 ~ June 23, 2022 (age 89)
Patricia R. Rogers, 89, residing in South Bend, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 23, 2022.
Pat was born in Plymouth, IN, the only daughter of the late Earle R. and Ruth R. Baumgardner and was a 1950 graduate of Riley High School. On June 14, 1953, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Paul M. Rogers at Faith United Methodist Church and celebrated 56 years of marriage before his passing in 2009.
Pat is survived by her daughters, Debra (Dana) Kinney of South Bend, Laura (Blaine Snyder) Tavernier-Snyder of New Carlisle, and Susan (Stuart) Tucker of Marietta, GA, along with five grandchildren, Daniel Kinney of Madison, WI, Diane (Andrew) Sheneman of South Bend, Denice (Aaron) Bradley of Byron Center, MI, Samuel Tucker of Macon, GA and Soren Tucker of Marietta, GA, and two great grandchildren, Aiden and Luke Bradley.
Pat was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Rogers and her son, Ron A. Rogers in 2009 and her brother, Earle Baumgardner Jr. Pat dedicated her life to caring for Ron and the health challenges he faced.
Pat was a member of Coalbush United Methodist Church, and was formerly a member of Faith United Methodist Church, South Bend where she was a member of the United Methodist Women and Olive Dunn Circle. Pat personified the mission of faith, hope and love in action. She co-chaired the publication of Faith’s Favorite Recipes cookbook in 1992 and contributed many of her favorite recipes to Cooking with Faith. Pat led many events at the church including craft shows, salad luncheons and fish fries.
Her greatest joy in life came from caring and spending time with her family. Saturdays in the fall were spent watching Notre Dame football games where her favorite defense was sacking the quarterback. She loved speaking to her children and grandchildren by phone, just not during the ND game. Pat loved watching the Olympics, especially figure skating, and college basketball games. She could always be found in the stands at her daughter’s sporting events and at any program, recital, or baseball game for her grandchildren.
Pat was an expert chef, baker, seamstress and artisan. She crocheted over five hundred hats for newborns at the local hospitals and crocheted Afghan blankets for family and friends. She made bridesmaid and flower girl dresses, curtains, pillow covers and bedspreads and dresses for her daughters and granddaughters. She was renowned for her cherry, apple, peach, rhubarb and banana cream pies and crisps. Birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays were special events that were celebrated with her family’s favorite foods, desserts, and decorations. There was always room at the table in Pat’s kitchen where every dinner had an entrée, vegetable, salad, and dessert.
Pat built the home where she raised her family with her husband, Paul. She could lay a roof shingle, renovate a bath or kitchen and paint or wallpaper like a professional. She was DIY before HGTV came along. She loved caring for her home and took pride in the yard and the pool where family and friends would gather. Summer evenings were spent floating in the pool with a cap to cover her perfectly coiffed hair.
Pat loved to travel around the United States by car with Paul. They would listen to Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and other classical performers as they traveled to see family and friends. Favorite places to visit included the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes, cities along the East Coast of the US and beloved family in Ohio.
Pat was a loving and caring wife, mom, grandma, aunt, sister, sister-in-law, and friend. She loved getting together with her life-long friends from the Riley Lunch Bunch and celebrating those friendships at her class reunions. Her life was filled with friends from church who became like family. In 2016 she was promoted to the role of Gigi when her first great grandson, Aiden, was born and again in 2019 when Luke arrived. She mastered the technology of Google Photos on her iPad so she could keep up with the boys as they grew.
The three words that personified Pat’s life were family, friends, and faith. Her children and grandchildren hope to live their lives by the example she set for them.
Memorial services celebrating the life of Pat will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at Palmer Funeral Home – Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan St. South Bend. Friends may visit with the family beginning at 11:00 a.m. until the time of service. Private family burial will take place at Southlawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the Rogers Family requests memorials be made to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, 702 Chapin St, South Bend, IN 46601 or https://feedindiana.org/
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.
07.22.2022 djb
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