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Kathy Borlik<\/span> An icy and snowy Saturday in late January did not deter many from celebrating the 90th birthday of Patricia Czarnecki<\/strong>. Several hundred people braved the cold to meet and greet Jan. 24 in the Washington High School<\/a> cafeteria in South Bend.<\/p>\n At times, the reception line was deep for a chance to get a hug, hear a story or sing the school song. No one left without a bit of love. Name tags were available for the group, but she knew nearly everyone.<\/p>\n Often there was an inside joke from 30 or 40 years ago or a check on a close relative.<\/p>\n For 90, she is nearly unstoppable and very independent. Always on the go and up for lunch, shopping and seeing family members. Friends would hope she would think twice about going and going. \u201cI can\u2019t sit at home. It keeps me going,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Patricia is known by Washington High alumni and most of the west side as Mrs. Pat. Many people only know her as Mrs. Pat.\u00a0She worked as the high school\u2019s office secretary for nearly 50 years<\/a>, retiring in 2004. Before that, she was a student at the school, graduating in 1954 from the Sample Street school.<\/p>\n The former Washington became Ivy Tech. Today, there is a vacant lot.<\/p>\n In 1966, she married Ray Czarnecki<\/strong> who was her sweetie in high school. Ray died in 2019. After his death, she was determined to be as active as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cI could sit home and cry, but I don\u2019t want that,” she said. “There is too much to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Friends say she is everyone\u2019s godmother, the favorite aunt and the best neighbor ever. Retired English teacher Louise Drapek<\/strong> said Mrs. Pat is an important part of the school\u2019s history. \u201cShe is Washington High. I had to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n As the secretary, Mrs. Pat took students, athletes, teachers and staff under her wing. She has a special place in the hearts of cheerleaders because she was the sponsor\/coach for years.<\/p>\n She calls them all \u201cher kids.\u201d Everyone knows her when she is running errands. She is greeted inside the grocery, drug store, restaurants and church. She hears \u2018Hi, Mrs. Pat\u2019 with every trip out of the house.<\/p>\n Mrs. Pat and her kids have an enduring friendship. She has sung for their weddings, attended showers and baked the best snickerdoodles in the city.<\/p>\n
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