Patricia Black

Patricia Ann "Pat" McCarville Black was born in the front bedroom of the family farmhouse in Willow Springs, WI on March 17, 1930 during a snowstorm. The doctor had to come by horse and sleigh. The daughter of William and Ethel (Richards) McCarville, she attended Sheldon School and Holy Rosary Catholic School. Her mother ordered the books for the country school and Pat developed a lifelong love for reading. A favorite activity was to climb up on the sloped roof of the henhouse to read, or make a cup of hot cocoa and read in the bed she shared with her sister Dot. The family also loved to harmonize around the piano as their Mother played "Whispering Hope", still singing along to it at age 94. Pat earned a four year scholarship to St. Mary's Academy in Prairie du Chien, graduating as Senior Class President in 1947. St. Mary's had archery equipment and a room full of skis for the students to use. The janitor made them a big ice rink each winter. Pat played the saxophone and trumpet in the school orchestra and sang in the church choir. She went out for track and was best at "putting the shot" and discus and was a guard in volleyball. The nuns taught her to use a sewing machine, later sewing Barbie doll and GI Joe clothes for her children. Pat started dating Ronald Black at the Darlington Fireman's Dance. They were married at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Calamine on June 24, 1950 in front of an altar decorated with baskets of peonies and bouquets of mixed flowers. Together they raised six children- Nancy Donahoe, Kerry (Kathleen "Kate") Black, Alan (Dianne) Black, Richard (Jeanne) Black, Julianne (Michael) Wiegel, and Steven (Lisa) Black, all of Darlington. Pat planted gorgeous cottage flower gardens at every house they lived in, teaching their scientific names to her children. In the winter, the song birds she loved to feed brightened their yard. She created oil paintings, quilts and afghans for her family. Pat and Ronnie started Black's FloorCovering in Darlington, living above it, and Pat would mind the store while Ronnie laid the flooring. They later bought the Towne Motel in Darlington, operating it for 22 years. They enjoyed traveling, listening to good music, and visiting with friends and family. Pat was a member of Holy Rosary Altar Society and the Red Hat club. Pat had a wonderful sense of humor and it's fun to see her humor emerging in her 18 grandchildren. Pat carefully recorded their names in the family bible: Jessica, Jason and Denise Donahoe: Chadd, Nikki and Scott Black; Jacquelyn, Keith, Brandon and Lydia Black; Dylan and Jade Black; Andrew, Liana and Alicia Wiegel; and Wade, Tyler, and Hayden Black. Pat and Ronnie were also blessed by these great grandchildren: Dillon, Morgan, Ian, Tayte, Riggs, Madalyn, Mitchell, Wren, Chayse, Maxton, Cayle, Brecken, Bella, Lennox, Lexie, Ruby, Vera, Kanon, Callum, Connor, Ivy, Raya, Olive, Korbin, Isaac, Ruger, Greyson, Sawyer, Waylon, Ruxtin, Claire, Landry, Wylie, Caitlyn and Jacob. Pat passed away peacefully on July 26, 2024 in Darlington. She is survived by all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, her sister Mary Ethel Buschor and in laws Nina McCarville, JoAnne (Jimmy) Crotty, Shirley McConnell and Mary Jane McDonald and many nieces and nephews. Pat was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Ronald Black in 2019, sisters Audrey (John) Fitzsimons, and Judy (Don) Dalton, her brothers Kenneth (Geraldine) McCarville, Jerry McCarville, James (Ardeth) McCarville and in-laws Helen Brunkow McCarville, Vic Oechslin, Richard Buschor, Dotson and Ella Black, Betty (Albert) Binau, Jean (Don) Parquet, William McConnell, and Jerry McDonald. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church (104 E. Harriet Street, Darlington) with Fr. Chris Gernetzke officiating. Burial will be in Holy Rosary Cemetery in Darlington. A visitation will be held Tuesday, July 30, 2024, from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church and on Wednesday from 10:00 A.M. until 10:45 A.M. The Erickson Funeral Home in Darlington is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com. "Those who have brought us joy, made us laugh, and shown us love have given us the lasting gifts of a beautiful life and blessed our memories forever."