PATRICIA GERAGHTY FALLIGANT

2018

Patricia Geraghty Falligant, 90, died peacefully surrounded by loving family on December 31, 2018.Raised in Bellaire, Texas, as an eighteen-year-old art student, Pat won a contest for a trip to Manhattan where she lived at the Barbizon Hotel for Women and modeled. Preferring the wholesale side of the fashion industry, she worked for Townley Frocks, managing the showroom for Claire McCardell who created American sportswear and whose clothes today are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. After six dates in six cities, she married Derry Osborne Falligant (d.1993), her beloved husband of 43 years, returned to Texas, had three children, studied art at the University of Houston, and worked for Neiman Marcus where she managed for the four Marcus brothers for many years in both Houston and Northbrook, IL. Always interested in social justice, she helped integrate the sales force of Neiman Marcus and she and her husband raised four foster Native American children for several years. In retirement she became a master gardener and volunteered at the Chicago Botanic Garden while maintaining an extensive cottage garden of her own. But her real passion was for her family, whom she adored, and for the art and gardening communities in Lake Bluff where she lived for three decades. She painted and sold in art shows on the North Shore. An active member of both Artists on the Bluff and the Lake Bluff Garden Club, she served both in many capacities including president while also serving on civic committees, raising money for improvement projects in her village. With boundless creativity, style and humor, she used her strength, energy and compassion to serve others. Cherished mother of Derry (Julie) Falligant, Cissi (Michael) Henrick, and Robert Raiford Falligant (d. 1999). Adored grandmother of Kelly (Andrew) Gamble, Brian (Justin Evans) Falligant, Danny (Lindsay) Falligant, Michael (Whitney) Henrick, Derry Henrick, and Jessica Rosario. Treasured great grandmother of Abigail, Lauren and Nathaniel Gamble, Jack Falligant, Kennedy Henrick and Elliott Speck. Loving daughter and sister, preceded in death by father, Aloysius Francis Geraghty, mother, Hortense Randals Geraghty, brothers Frank and John Geraghty, and sister, Mary Ann Geraghty Benson. Beloved aunt of several nieces and nephews. Visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, January 11, at Wenban Funeral Home, 320 Vine Av., Lake Forest, IL Catholic Mass at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, January 12, at St. Mary’s Church 201 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest Il Interment at St. Mary’s Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Lake Bluff Garden Club, P.O. Box 273, Lake Bluff, IL 60044. Info wenbanfh.com