Patricia Ruth Rau (Shanahan)

Patricia Rau, 90, of Beal City, passed away Monday, July 29, 2024, at MyMichigan Medical Center in Clare. Pat was born June 10, 1934, in Shepherd, Michigan, daughter of the late Joseph and Hazel (Thorpe) Shanahan. She married Norman H. Rau on August 25, 1951, at St. Philomena Catholic Church in Beal City. She graduated from Shepherd High School in 1952. In the 1980s Pat owned The Diet Center in Mt. Pleasant. She liked reading, crocheting, cooking, and canning. She found joy in planting flowers and was well versed in the names for each tree, flower, and bird. She and Norm enjoyed traveling, highlighted by trips to Hawaii and Germany. They often camped at Canadian Lakes, as well. After Norm's death, Pat missed Norm immensely, having been married for 71 years. Pat loved her family dearly and was known to spoil her grandchildren from time to time. She leaves behind her three children, Cynthia Griswold of Mt. Pleasant, Daniel (Karen) Rau of Mt. Pleasant, and Louis Rau of Traverse City; six grandchildren, Jacob (Cari) Griswold of Hastings, Philip (Briana) Lieby of Riverdale, Olivia Rau of Grand Rapids, Jonathan Rau of Boston, MA, Joseph Rau of Montclair, NJ, and Erica Lieby of Mecosta; three great grandchildren, Ondreya, Desmond, and Annalysa Griswold; daughter in-law, Deb Lieby; sister, Sharon Bordeleau of Haslett; in-laws, Mary Irene (Fred) Zeien of Beal City and Gert Brownlee of Sanford; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Hazel Shanahan; husband, Norman Rau; son, Eric Lieby; sisters and brothers in-law, Caroline and Warren Cole, Helen and Ivan Goffnett, Idella and Thomas Phillips, and Echo and Joseph Sliger; and in-laws, Harold and Edna Rau, Walter and Edna "Doll" Rau, Stephen and Eileen Rau, Raymond and Sally Rau, Rose Marie and Richard Funnell, Margaret and Dale Noble, Donald and Gaye Rau; Ted Brownlee, and Ted Bordeleau. A Funeral Mass for Pat will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, August 2, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church. Father Andy LaFramboise will preside. Rite of Committal will be in St. Joseph Cemetery followed by a luncheon at the Beal City Knights of Columbus Hall. The family will receive friends in the gathering room of the church on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. with the Rosary beginning at 7 p.m. Visitation continues Friday one hour prior to Mass. Memorial contributions may be made St. Joseph the Worker School or the Commission on Aging. Envelopes will be available at the church. To sign the online guest book or leave a condolence for the family please visit www.CharlesRLux.com.