Patricia H. “Pat” Wirick, age 91 of Defiance, passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at Kingsbury Place in Defiance.
She was born on July 8, 1934 in Defiance, Ohio to the late Linus and Anna (Weber) Froelich. On October 22, 1955 she married John B. Wirick Sr. who preceded her in death in 2017.
Pat was a 1952 graduate of Defiance High School and was a devoted member of St. Mary Catholic Church. Her first job was carhopping for Jigg’s Rootbeer Stand. She worked for Zeller Corp and then co-managed and managed Sterling Dairy Store for 25 years, retiring in 1991. She enjoyed playing bingo, reading, working in her flower garden, and especially spending time with her family.
Pat will be dearly missed by her seven children, John (Tammy) Wirick Jr., Jane (Jim) Brown, all of Defiance, Joan DeSota of Ney, Jeffrey (Elaine) Wirick of Sherwood, Pam (Jon) Flower of Port Charlotte, FL, Penny (Mike) Relyea of Defiance, and Matthew (Mandra) Wirick, DDS of Raleigh, NC. She also leaves behind 16 grandchildren, Adam, Nick and Dillon Wirick, Tami (Jeremy) Backhaus, James Brown, Travis and Justin (Kristie) DeSota, Ethan Wirick, Elyn (Marcus) Whitman, Morgan (Cody) Wickerham, Megan (Britt) Gerken, Derek Relyea, Camilla, Nolan, Campbell and Neal Wirick, and 23 great-grandchildren, along with her sister Virginia Manley and sisters-in-law Marilyn Wirick, Beverly Froelich and Marilyn Froelich.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by siblings and in-laws, Alma Jean Froelich, Mary Ann and Don Wells, Margaret and Robert Free, Richard Keller, John Froelich, Willard Froelich, Richard Manley, Kenneth Wirick and Robert Wirick, grandson Nathan Wirick, and son-in-law Denny DeSota.
Visitation will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026 from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm with a Rosary Service at 2:00 pm at Schaffer Funeral Home South, Lawson-Roessner Chapel (1753 S. Clinton Street) in Defiance and one hour prior to Mass in the St Joseph Annex at St. Mary Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, January 6th at St. Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Kevin McGraw officiating. Pat will be laid to rest in Riverview Memory Gardens.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Kingsbury Place for taking such good care of Pat for four years, and also the staff of ELARA Caring Hospice for the past year.
Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s Food Pantry or ELARA Caring Hospice. Online condolences can be given at www.Schafferfh.com.
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