Patricia L. "Pat" Merz, 92, of Troy, Ill., born Sept. 2, 1922, in St. Louis, Mo., died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015, at Anderson Hospital, Maryville, Ill.


Pat was a faithful long time member of Troy United Methodist Church. She was a member of United Methodist Women, the church choir, hand bell choir, quilters and a member of the Granite City Minerva Club and P.E.O. Sisterhood of Illinois. She graduated from the University of Illinois Bloomington/Normal with a degree in Elementary Education. Pat loved her family and enjoyed the time she spent with them.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kurt J. Merz whom she married June 19, 1942, and who passed away March 7, 1989; a son, Michael "Mickie" Merz; her parents Edward and Gladys, nee Cooley, Reidweg; Viva, nee Cooley, Manes, who raised her after her mother passed away at an early age; and a daughter-in-law, Joan Merz.

Surviving are her four sons, Edward O. (Saundra) Merz of Columbia, Ill., Bruce W. Merz of Glen Carbon, Ill., Erich E. (Marla) Merz of O'Fallon, Ill., and Mark A. (Cathy) Merz of Edwardsville, Ill.; eight grandchildren Edward Kurt (Erin) Merz, Andrew Albert (Amanda) Merz, Michael Kurt (Amy) Merz, Audrey Patricia Merz, Courtney Diane Merz, Kyle Austin Merz, Scott Austin Merz, and Lauren Renee Merz; three great-grandchildren, Reagan, Liam and Zooey Merz; and a sister, Marilee, nee Manes, Schied of Warrenton, Va.

Memorials may be made to Troy United Methodist Church or Ministries Unlimited. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.Richesonfh.com

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday Feb. 15, 2015, and 9 to 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Troy United Methodist Church, Troy, Ill.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at the Church, with Rev. Dennis Price officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Hills Cemetery, Glen Carbon, Ill.

RICHESON FUNERAL HOME, Troy, Ill.