Patricia V. Fairbanks
March 16, 1930 - November 16, 2008

Some people go through life simply living, never really touching the hearts of others. Patricia Fairbanks was not this sort of woman; her life touched the hearts and lives of people of all ages, all over the world, over the span of her entire lifetime. Patricia was a beloved sister, mother, grandmother, and friend who brightened the lives of all who knew and loved her.

In the year 1930, our nation had begun to fall into the grip of the Great Depression so people did what they could to make their lives happy. Dale and Helen (Pedden) Vredenburg, of Owasso, Michigan were looking forward to a joyous occasion of their own, the birth of their first child. On May 16, 1930 they were blessed with the birth of a daughter whom they named Patricia. As a young girl Patricia lived in Royal Oak, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, where she was joined by four younger brothers; John (Jack), Clark, Jimmy, and finally Bob. Her father, who worked for Trailmobile Truck Company in Detroit, decided that life near such a large metropolitan area was not the life he desired for his family and so he moved his family to Cannonsburg, Michigan where Helens family lived and operated a farm. Cannonsburg is located in western Michigan and offers a more rural setting yet is still nearby the larger city of Grand Rapids. Her father purchased a dairy farm for his family to run but also commuted back and forth to Detroit in order to continue his career with Trailmobile. This left all of his children to help out on the farm where Patricia did her fair share of the work and established a great work ethic that would stay with her throughout her entire life. When she wasnt working, Patricia attended Rockford High School where she met John Barker a young man that her father also hired to help out around their family farm, called Helendale. After graduation both Patricia and John attended Michigan State University. Although their families were not in support of the young lovebirds getting married, Patricia and John eloped to South Bend, Indiana and were married.

They newlyweds bought a 100 acre farm on Five Mile Road in Ada, Michigan, just outside of Grand Rapids, where they settled in together and John began working on nearby farms while he prepared their land for farming. Their lives were soon enriched when their daughter Connie was born in 1951, followed by another daughter Caren in 1954. Patricia earned her teaching certificate and helped support the family by teaching school in Stanton, Michigan. Although money was a bit tight for their family, they still took family vacations up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where family memories were made that would last a lifetime.

Patricias life drastically changed in a matter of a few days when in 1956 her husband John was killed in a logging accident on their farm and her son John was born just two days later. Patricia decided that she needed to earn her degree and she moved with her three children to the married housing section at the Sparty Village at Michigan State University. She was the first single mother ever to live there but was fortunate that her brother Jack was also a student at the University and lived right next door. Patricia earned her degree in special education and was able to work for the Kent County Intermediate school district back in western Michigan.

Patricia was thrilled to meet an older man named Charles Fairbanks whom she began dating and later married in 1960. All of his children were already grown but he additionally adopted Patricias three young children. Patricia and Charles sold the family farm and moved to downtown Grand Rapids before eventually settling in the Grand Haven area in 1966. In Grand Haven their family attended First Presbyterian Church and Patricia found work as a teacher and counselor for the Ottawa County Intermediate School District. Unfortunately, Patricia became a widow for a second time when her husband Charles died in the early 1980s. A new phase in her life began again when she retired from the school system during the mid 1980s, although she didnt actually stop working. Instead she began working in what would be a very fulfilling and exciting position with Pacific Intercultural Exchange (PIE) where she helped place hundreds of foreign exchange students in host homes in the Grand Haven area. She was able to form close bonds with many of these students and was even sometimes able to visit them when her job took her abroad to countries like Yugoslavia, Mexico, and Brazil, among many others.

In addition to traveling, Patricia enjoyed knitting and could make a sweater in just a day! She also knitted baby clothes that she would donate to various organizations that provide world relief. Patricia also loved sewing and made beautiful quilts which she often entered in competitions. She loved shopping for treasures like gaudy jewelry and big rings, especially at garage sales. She also collected treasures for some Amish families that she befriended in return for soap they made. Patricia was a generous woman, often helping her children out during difficult times, even raising her two grandchildren, Christina and Will for a few years.

When a stroke left Patricia in need of additional care, she moved into assisted living in Fruitport, Michigan. Although she was no longer able to drive, she kept herself busy doing various things. Her daughter became involved in Soldiers Angels and Patricia helped out by writing over 2000 Christmas cards to the troops stationed overseas. She was able to celebrate her 75th birthday with her family at a fun and memorable party at the Spring Lake Country Club a few years ago. A short time later, life began to take its toll on Patricia and her health began to decline.

Patricia Fairbanks was a hardworking, sensitive woman who brought much joy to people all over the world that she touched over a period of many years in a variety of ways. Whether it was soldiers stationed overseas, babies in need of clothes in foreign lands, or one of her children in need of a helping hand, Patricia always gave of herself to brighten someone elses life. Her love, her joy for living, and her generous spirit will be deeply missed by those she leaves behind.

Patricia V. Fairbanks died on Sunday, November 16, 2008. Patricias family includes her two daughters, Connie Boness of Vestaburg, Caren (Jeff) Vink of Spring Lake; 1 son, John (Dana) Fairbanks of Texas; 2 brothers, Bob (Rita) Vredenburg of Belleville, Jimmy Vredenburg of Florida; 6 grandchildren, Chandler, Jerett, Jordan, Christina, William, Tony. She was preceded in death by her 1st husband, John Barker in 1956 and her 2nd husband Charles Fairbanks. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 19, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. Clock Life Story Funeral Homes Fruitport Chapel Fruitport, MI with a reception following at the funeral home. Please visit Patricias memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or make a memorial contribution to Soldier Angels; www.soldiersangels.com.

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