Patricia Ann Kara of Chesterton passed on peacefully with her family present on Tuesday January 27, 2009. 

She was born in Harvey, Ill. on June 5, 1945 the daughter of June and Charles Kara, both of whom preceded her in death. 

Patricia is survived by two sisters and three brothers, Judy (Jim) Chaplin of Chesterton, Carol Bragg of Jacksonville, N.C. , David (Suzi) Kara of Chesterton, Tom Kara (Arne Ahlstedt) of Norwood, Mo., Paul (Libby) Kara of Muskegon, Mich., and an Aunt and Uncle, Ruth and Te Fung Yeh of Seal Beach, Calif. 

Patty was also a very devoted aunt to many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews who adored her. Patty will be remembered by those who knew her for her angelic service to her parents, family members and others when they most needed personal care, for her consistently positive attitude in the face of seeming adversity, as well as for her love of family, friends and adventure. 

She grew up in Chesterton, graduated from Chesterton High School and was actively involved in choir, Rural Youth and church groups. After graduation she worked in the Chicago headquarters of Standard Oil Company and then as a comptroller for an international woman’s wear firm in Los Angeles before founding a contract bridge academy in Woodland Hills, Calif. In 1987 she returned to Chesterton to care for her mother and father. She was always pursuing additional knowledge and she completed training in areas as diverse as travel planning and income tax preparation. 

After returning to Chesterton, Patty became the bookkeeper and cheerful delivery person for her family’s business, Shady Lawn Florist, through which she had daily contact with countless community members. Throughout her life Patty enjoyed travel, reading and the many enjoyable days spent with family and friends.

Patty’s family is holding a reception in celebration of her life on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 4 - 6 p.m. at the Waterbird Lakeside Inn, 556 Indian Boundary Road, Chesterton. The family invites those who knew and loved Patty to join them there to partake of refreshments and celebrate her life. Patty always enjoyed a gathering of family and friends and the family hopes everyone can join them for this remembrance.

Posted 1/29/2009