Patricia Ann Frenn

Patricia Ann Orn was born on September 11, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois to Emil and Betty Orn. She graduated from Tilden Technical High School in Chicago and attended Northwestern University at the Navy Pier. She married Clifford Frenn on April 3, 1965 in Norway, Michigan. Pat and Cliff first met when she was 14 through her older brother Emil. When she was 18, her mother “set them up” on a date to the General Motors Family Picnic in the fall of 1956 and invited Cliff to “come along”. Pat proposed to Cliff in the Red Owl parking lot in Iron Mountain, Michigan. They resided at Hamilton Lakes until 1969 when they moved to Marquette and purchased Marquette Wallpaper and Paint.

Pat and Cliff had a daughter, Susan Beth in 1968 and then a second daughter, Ann Marie in 1971. Pat loved and excelled at motherhood. Her girls were her pride and joy. She enjoyed doing over the top special projects for them. She was a talented seamstress, creating many formal dresses for dances and Ann Marie’s pageants. One Christmas Eve she sewed Barbie clothing through the entire night for Christmas morning. She was always creative with birthday parties and holiday events too. She was a true role model for her daughters by showing them how to be independent, responsible and outspoken when it was important.

Pat was an extremely talented and accomplished watercolorist. She attended many special watercolor workshops around the Midwest with painting mentors and made a lot of special friends through art. She was the winner of the Downtown Marquette Blueberry Fest poster contests. She also authored a coloring book for Downtown Marquette. She enjoyed creating and vending her paintings at the Outback Art Show and the Holiday Art Show at Peter White Public Library. Many people have her prints hanging in their homes.

Patricia and Cliff loved to travel and went on many special trips to Europe, Maine, New Orleans, Hawaii, Savannah, Charleston and Florida. She adored Mackinaw Island, especially The Grand Hotel and The Murray House. They spent a lot of time on their wooden boat “The Superior Queen” travelling to Isle Royale several times and keeping their boat docked at the Mikkola’s at Portage Entry near Chassel, Michigan.

Pat loved fantastic food and was a gourmet cook. She enjoyed the art of preparing meals and sharing it with her family and friends. She and Cliff had many “gourmet” dinner groups over the years. She loved making new recipes and always had the Food Network channel on trying to absorb new ideas for cooking. That was probably the hardest thing for her when her health was starting to decline, that she would no longer be able to share her “love” through her cooking. Her favorite cross stitch that hung in her kitchen was “Kiss the Cook”.

A highlight of her life was being a Grandmother. When Zoey Ann was born in 2003 they were inseparable. They spent a lot of time together bonding at the Peter White Public Library and painting wonderful watercolors together. “Grandma Pat” played a special role in Zoey’s life. They were two peas in a pod. They would tool around town in her yellow Mini Cooper, going to the dog park, attending special events and just spending time together. She attended every dance recital, band concert, percussion concert and special awards night for Zoey.

Pat served and volunteered a lot of her time. The Welcome Wagon, La Leche League, Downtown Marquette Association, Downtown Development Association, Marquette Community Federal Credit Union, Northern Center for Life Long Learning, Friends of the Elderly, Messiah Lutheran Church and Fortune Lake Lutheran Bible Camp all benefitted from her time. She really enjoyed her friends and loved to attend her weekly Wednesday lunch group out on the town.

Pat’s most important job was a homemaker. When her girls were older she worked in several capacities. She had her own business, The Finishing Touch, in Ishpeming. She also worked at Entre Amigos and at the Cat’s Meow. She retired from her last job at Northern Michigan University in the College of Business and the Academic Senate.

Pat is survived by her husband of 55 years Clifford A. Frenn, daughters Susan Brian and Ann Marie Frenn, son-in law Tom Brian, granddaughter Zoey Ann Brian, a niece Amy Orn of Norway, MI; special pets Mia and Coco, grand pets Cha-Cha, Olive and Daisy. She is also survived by many special friends who were so wonderful to her over the years: Suzy and Dennis, Kathy, Helen and Scott, Barb, Kathy and Bill to name a few. She was preceded in death by a brother Emil Orn, sister-in-law Judy Orn, nephew David Orn and both of her parents.

Pat’s family would like to give a special thanks to all of her caretakers over the past few years and especially the staff at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility.

Pat enjoyed all the good things that life had to offer. She would want you to continue to try new recipes, take your dog on a walk and tell the people that are important to you that you love them.

A celebration of Pat’s life will take place at a later date. Donations may be made in memory of Patricia to UPAWS (Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter), P.O. Box 968, Marquette, MI 49855; Marquette History Center, 145 W. Spring Street, Marquette, MI 49855; or Peter White Public Library, 217 N. Front Street, Marquette, MI 49855.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com