Patricia McDonald

Patricia McDonald, 93, of Phillips, died, Monday, May 18, 2026, surrounded by her family. 
Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 29 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aurora. Rev. Mark Seiker will officiate. Interment will be in the Phillips Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, with a Rosary following at 7 p.m. Memorials may be made to the family to designate at a later date. Higby-McQuiston Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be made to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.  The funeral service will be livestreamed through Zoom Meeting ID 6297345912, Passcode McDon2026.
She was born on March 10th, 1933, to Frank and Frieda Habe (Seifert) in Ravenna. Patricia had five siblings including Jenny, Lanore, Clara, Frances, and Dorothy, of which she was the last remaining one. After graduation from Ravenna High School in 1950, she taught at a rural elementary school for 2 years. She then obtained a nursing degree from Saint Francis School of Nursing in Grand Island where she graduated in 1955. Soon after graduation, she met a handsome young man at the Glovera dance hall named Francis McDonald. She caught his eye at the Valentine’s Day dance with her bright orange sweater. Within 3 months they were engaged and wedded on November 23, 1955, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Ravenna. This was the beginning of a wonderful seventy-year union. They started a life together on a rural Phillips farm. Together as a team, they raised eight children: Mary Pat, Jane, John, Francis, Carolyn, Laura, Kathleen, and Susan. Eight children in ten years was a busy household, yet she also managed all the accounting for the farm. Her preciseness down to the very cent always amazed the tax accountant.
Despite these many responsibilities, she also had many hobbies throughout the years. She was an avid gardener, always canning and processing produce for the growing family. Inside the house, she perfected a recipe for cinnamon raisin bread that continues to be baked by many of her children and grandchildren. She baked delicious chocolate chip cookie bars and always had some on hand for her sons working on the farm and her grandchildren. Patricia had an interest in raising many different fowl, including peacocks, guineas, chickens, ducks, and geese. She was incredibly talented with her hands, often making quilts for others, including baby quilts for many of her grandchildren. Patricia made many cross-stitch pictures for her house and gave several to her children as well. She spent time volunteering as a Master Gardener, a teacher of the Catholic faith, and a voting volunteer. She loved cheering on her children and grandchildren at their sporting events. Both Francis and Patricia enjoyed following Nebraska volleyball together. 
Patricia was wonderful at writing letters to inspire her children, beginning with such words as “my darling daughters”.  Of all her accomplishments, she took extreme pride in being a good wife to Francis and a loving mother to her children living out Proverbs 31:10: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.”  Francis would be the first to give credit to Patricia for being the “heart of the family.”  In her later years, Parkinson’s disease left her with a progressive decline in her physical health. However, with the dedication of Francis and their children, she was able to stay at home. This home was the very one they moved into together seventy years ago. Patricia was devoted to her Catholic faith. She enjoyed the Rosary and constantly had prayer books at her side. Despite physical frailty, she prayed unceasingly for her family. 
She is survived by her husband Francis and children: (Dave Miller, husband of the late Mary Pat Miller), Dr. Jane McDonald (Kim) Jungck, John (Susan) McDonald, Francis (Michelle) McDonald, Carolyn (Perry) Hosier, Laura (Larry) Keiter, Dr. Kathleen McDonald (Kirk) Delany, Dr. Susan (Tim) Fanta. Twenty-seven grandchildren and thirty-six great-grandchildren also survive her. She is expecting two more great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. 
She is preceded in death by her oldest daughter Mary Pat Miller and grandson Benjamin Fanta. 
Special thanks to those who cared for her and the family, including Dr. Ryan Crouch, Ascera care Hospice, Grand Island Regional Medical Center, and Tiffany Square. God did indeed give Rev. Mark Seiker the graces as his words provided such comfort to us all.