Patricia Chauvez

Patricia Chauvez was a woman who everyone seemed to know, a friend to a great diverse group of people. They knew her for her fun loving spirit, her love for others, and her opinions regarding things she felt strongly about. She was an elegant, beautiful woman who always dressed to the hilt, and was a woman of faith who embraced her role as a mother and grandmother. The 1920s, known as the Roaring Twenties, was a period in our nations history during which more women made up the work force than ever before. Hazel (Kaiser) Sivertson was one of these working women, but more monumental to her was that she and her husband Ole were anxiously awaiting the birth of their third child. On October 30, 1926 they were blessed with the birth of a daughter whom they named Patricia. Their new baby joined older siblings Jen and Marjorie at their home in Ludington, Michigan, located on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan. This lake provided work for Ole who was a helmsman on the car ferry that transported railroad cars to the other side of the lake. The Sivertson girls, who were later joined by brother Keith (Ole), had a fun childhood living just a few blocks from the docks where their father worked. Pat was a good student who graduated from Ludington High School. It was at this high school that Pat met her sweetheart, Elery (Jack) Chauvez, whom she would spend almost 45 years in marriage with, but for now, that would have to wait. Jack was two years older than Pat and when he graduated from high school was sent to serve his country in WWII. Their time apart didnt end the love story for Pat and Jack and upon his return the two high school sweethearts were united in marriage in the spring of 1945. The newlyweds moved to Big Rapids, Michigan where Jack studied accounting at Ferris State College. Their lives were greatly enriched when they welcomed their firstborn, a son named Kirk who was born in 1947. After graduation Jack got a job as an accountant for the Muskegon County Road Commission, which relocated his family to the Muskegon area where they settled into a home on Langeland St. He was later appointed to the Manager Director. It was also here that two additional children joined their family; Kimberly and Kevin, who rounded out their family in 1960. The Chauvez home was the place where everyone wanted to be. It was known as the hangout for all the kids, perhaps due in part to the fun loving personality of Pat. Mornings were a bit rough for Pat as she took awhile to get going, so her children all learned to become pretty self sufficient before school. Pat was a very involved mother who was a Cub Scout leader, and a Brownie leader as well as very involved in the PTA at her childrens school. Pat was also a very resourceful woman. She used the time the kids were at school to help supplement the familys income by working in sales at Robert Halls, a clothing store where she was also able to buy many of the childrens clothes. Additionally, she sold both Tupperware and childrens toys at neighborhood parties. Life was not all work for Pat, however, as she managed to have her fair share of fun as well. She and Jack were very social people and they often entertained in their home. They loved to go dance to the Big Band music at the Fruitport Pavilion. They were members of the Vikings, the Muskegon Eagles, and the American Legion in Grand Haven. Pat and her family were longtime members of First Congregational Church in Muskegon, where she was a Sunday school teacher, helped in the nursery, was in the Womans Circle, and was a regular volunteer for all the funeral lunches. Pat and her family would also take frequent trips back to Ludington to visit family. Pats life was drastically changed when her husband Jack died in a car accident in 1984. These were difficult days for Pat, but she leaned on her family and her faith to help get her through. She sold their family home and moved into a condo near the Glenside neighborhood which would be easier for her to maintain. She kept herself busy by staying active in her church and gained a sense of fulfillment by volunteering at Hackley Hospital in Muskegon. Brighter days came for Pat when she began dating a fellow widower and longtime acquaintance, Vernon Laufer, from Ludington. The two were a good match and enjoyed many of the same things, like dancing and socializing. They were soon living together and although they never married, they were in a committed relationship for what would be the rest of Pats life. They became snowbirds together when they left the cold and snow of Michigan behind and traded it for the sandy shores and warm sunshine of Gulf Shores, Alabama for many years until Pat had knee replacement surgery. Pat embraced her role as a grandmother and loved spending as much time as she could with her grandchildren. Sometimes her grandchildren would sneak away from home to go to nearby Memaws house, leaving their mothers wondering where they had run off to! In her later years, Pats health began declining. She received triple bypass surgery among various other health concerns. She was fortunate to have Vern in her life. Together they took care of each other until Pats body could no longer keep up and started to fail. Patricia Chauvez was a woman with a zest for life who always made sure you knew how she felt and always made sure her friends and family knew they were loved. She knew how to work and how to play, and it is her fun loving spirit that will live on in the hearts and memories of those she leaves behind. Patricia will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Mrs. Patricia O. Chauvez, age 82, passed away Thursday, November 13, 2008 surrounded by her loving family. Patricias family includes her significant other of 20 years, Vernon Laufer; sons, Kirk (Sharon) Chauvez, Kevin (Mary) Chauvez; daughter, Kimberly (Ray) Prow all of Muskegon; grandchildren, Emily Prow, Kameron Chauvez, Kolten Chauvez, Kristopher (Janene) Chauvez, Kallie Chauvez, James Jawor Jr., Jacquelyn Roma; brother, Keith "Ole" (Debbie) Sivertson of IL; sister, Marge Elnick of Muskegon. She was preceded in death by her husband Elery "Jack" Chauvez. A Celebration of her life will be held at First Congregational Church, Monday, November 24, 2008, 12:00 PM with Rev. Tim VanderHaar & Jeff McClain officiating. Interment at Sunrise Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Visit with Patricias family and friends on Monday, 1 hour prior to the service. Please visit Patricias memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or make a memorial contribution to Harbor Hospice or First Congregational Church. Arrangements made by Clock Life Story Funeral Homes Muskegon location, Muskegon, MI.