Pernetta Marie "Pat" Deemer

Pernetta Marie “Pat” Deemer, 96, formerly of Hawthorn Woods, passed away peacefully at home in Lake Barrington, IL on August 30, 2024, with her daughter Dorothy holding her hand. Born to Casper and Erneste Cottrell on July 7, 1928, in Washington, DC, she grew up in Ithaca, NY. Pat married her high school sweetheart, the late Reed E. Deemer, enjoying 40 years of happy marriage while raising four children together.

She and her husband were active with the Lake Zurich High School AFS chapter and hosted two students from Europe. They enjoyed traveling and attended many plays and concerts.

A loving and industrious mother and homemaker, she sewed many of her children’s clothes including a granddaughter’s wedding dress. She made quilts, knitted sweaters, and crocheted many blankets. While her children obtained their college degrees, she finished hers and a Masters, after which she served as a School Psychologist for several years. An avid reader, she hosted reading and writing groups, and wrote two books: Pavel of Poland and The Crack in the Lawn.

Always optimistic, Pat loved to laugh and made friends easily. In her later years, she was active at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Lake Zurich where she started a church library, was active in several small groups and made many deep friendships. Pat loved her family deeply and invested in their lives significantly - with personal notes, visits, prayers, hospitality, practical help, encouragement and of course, with her famous chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

She is survived by her children, Chris (Barbara) Deemer, Stephen (Patricia) Deemer, Elizabeth (Jim) Mano, and Dorothy (Louie Sharp) Deemer. She was the loving grandmother of Karen (Tim) Stewart, Mark (Melissa Arroyo) Deemer, Ruth (Chris) Franks, Eric Deemer, Lisa (Nick Luthi) Deemer, Sean (Elizabeth) Johnston, Chris Deemer, Jessica (Timothy) Mange, Nicole Mano and Daniel Mano.

She was also the great grandmother of Joshua, Mitchell, Emily, Lilia, Alexander, Camilo, Calvin, Gwen, Moriah, Lucea and Maizy.

She is also survived by her sister, Anne Cuff and children, Helen English and J.P. Cuff; and brother, Thomas (Lee) Cottrell and his children, James (Yve Susskind) Cottrell, Maxine Cottrell, Anne (Doug Cutting) Cottrell, Chris (Cameron Walker) Cottrell and Lee’s daughter, Danica Cottrell.

Visitation is Saturday, September 7, 2024, beginning at 1:00 p.m., followed by the Funeral Service at 2:00 p.m. at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, 47 Church Street, Lake Zurich. Interment will follow in Lake Zurich Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Habitat for Humanity (habitat.org), Doctors Without Borders USA (doctorswithoutborders.org), and Heifer International (heifer.org) are appreciated.