Patricia A. Heynen

Patricia "Pat" Fitzgerald Tatarek Heynen, 88, passed away on October 12, 2026, in Englewood, Colorado.

Pat was born on June 8, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, to Harold and Elsie (Shrode) Fitzgerald. She spent her early childhood in Chicago before moving to Northwest Indiana, where she graduated from George Rogers Clark High School in Whiting, Indiana. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Leona (Kinnear), Dorothy (Surprise), and her brother Jack.

She was married to Frank Tatarek and later to Henry Heynen. She was grateful for those chapters in her life that built the family that became the center of her life.

Pat's greatest pride and joy was her family. She is survived by her children, Colleen (Mark) Lindstone, Michael Tatarek, Kathleen (Russell) Van Peusem, Courtnay (Rob) Parkhurst, and Scott (Michelle) Heynen. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Sean (Amy Lee) Lindstone, Erin (Eddie Kim) Lindstone, Megan Jarman, Briget (Jordan) Sherman, and Hannah Parkhurst, along with several great-grandchildren who always brought a smile to her face.

Pat raised her family in Northwest Indiana and Central Michigan before moving to Colorado in the mid-1980s. She spent the rest of her life in Colorado and Wyoming, building a career in medical transcription and making lifelong friends along the way. She retired from Cheyenne Regional Medical Center in 2010 after several years managing the medical transcription department.

But if you asked Pat what mattered most, it wasn't her career. It was family. She loved having everyone together around the table. She was an incredible cook, and cooking was one of the ways she showed her love. Holidays, birthdays or just an ordinary evening, Pat could turn any meal into an occasion. There was always room for one more person, another helping, and plenty of conversation and laughter. Her cooking was so good that she was featured as the Hammond Times "Cook of the Week" in the early 1970s.

Pat believed in being involved and making a difference in her community. She was always at the center of the neighborhood, especially during her years in Hammond. She helped organize school activities, community dinners, holiday celebrations, neighborhood beautification projects, and voter outreach efforts. She believed that strong communities are built by people who show up, pitch in, and take care of one another, and she led by example wherever she lived.

Along with her love of cooking and community involvement, Pat was a devoted Chicago sports fan. Win or lose, she remained a loyal fan throughout her life. Whether celebrating a big win or shaking her head at a tough loss, she cheered for her teams and always had an opinion about the latest game.

Being a grandmother was one of her favorite roles. She sat through countless recitals, games, tournaments, school programs, and competitions, happy just to be there cheering from the sidelines. She loved spending time with her grandchildren whether it was reading stories, playing games, offering advice, or giving one of her famous hugs when life got tough.

During one of those many games with the grandkids, she earned the nickname "Boss." That eventually became "Bossy," a title she wore proudly and one that stuck for decades. To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she will always be Bossy.

In later years, Pat found great companionship in her two West Highland Terriers, Bella and Gabby. She rarely missed a trip to the dog park and made many friends there, sharing stories and laughter with fellow dog lovers throughout the Denver area.

Life wasn't always easy, and she faced a number of health challenges over the years. She met them the same way she met everything else: with determination, stubbornness, and strength. Even as her health declined, her mind remained sharp. She loved keeping up with current events, wasn't afraid of a spirited political discussion, and remained engaged in the world around her. In a final example of just how determined she was, she cast her vote only days before her passing.

Pat will be remembered for her quick wit, her resilience and her love of family. She leaves behind countless memories of family dinners, holidays, laughter, and the simple moments that matter most.

She will be cremated, and her family will gather at a later date to celebrate her life, share stories, laugh, and remember the many happy times they spent together. Though she will be greatly missed, her love, strength, and the memories she created will remain with her family always.