Jennifer Patterson, 45, of Lenox Township, died Tuesday, January 11, 2011, in her home after an extended illness. She was born August 1, 1965, in Mt. Clemens, Michigan to Howard and Gertrude (Klebba) Rhein. Jenny was employed for 19 years as a teacher in the Chippewa Valley School District. She followed in her mother's footsteps and found that she also enjoyed teaching the lower elementary students. She spent most of her years teaching first grade at Clinton Valley Elementary. Prior to her teaching career she worked for several years as a graphic design artist. She also was a church organist for 20 years and always spoke fondly of the days she worked at the Richmond Dairy Queen. Jenny was a 1979 graduate of St. Augustine Catholic School, a 1983 graduate of Richmond High School, and she graduated from Madonna College in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in commercial art and a minor in fine art. She later returned to Madonna to earn her teaching certification in elementary education and then continued to pursue and obtain her Master's degree. She married John David Patterson on July 24, 2009 in Richmond, Michigan. A member of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Richmond, she also was a member of Kappa Gamma Pi, the Michigan Education Association, and the National Education Association. She enjoyed taking pictures, scrapbooking, shopping, and most of all spending time with her son. Jenny is survived by her husband, John David Patterson; her son, John Ilowski of Lenox Township; her father, Howard Rhein of Lenox Township; siblings, John (Linda) Rhein of Lenox Township and Jo Anne (Chris) Rhein of Richmond Township; nieces and nephew, Nicole, Noah, and Emmelia Rhein; father and mother-in-law, Jack and Laura Patterson of Almont and her step-sons Lee (Katy) Patterson of Millington, Allen Patterson of Millington and Steven Patterson of Imlay City; She was predeceased by her mother, Gertrude (Trudy) Rhein on June 5, 2005. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, January 14, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Augustine Catholic Church, with the Rev. Joseph Plawecki, pastor and Rev. Joseph Horn officiating. Internment will be at St. Michael's Cemetery in Richmond. Visitation is Wednesday and Thursday from 3-8 p.m. with a 6 p.m. prayer service on Thursday in Rewalt Funeral Home, 68655 Stoecker Lane, Richmond. Additional visitation is 10:00-10:30 a.m. Friday, January 14, 2011 in the church.


Memorials:
Clinton Valley Elementary School Library, Richmond Catholci Education Foundation for St. Augustine School Library or the Josephine Ford Cancer Center-Fairlane


Visitations:
3:00PM to 8:00PM on Wednesday, January 12th, 2011 at Rewalt Funeral Home and Cremation Services (map/driving directions)

3:00PM to 8:00PM on Thursday, January 13th, 2011 at Rewalt Funeral Home and Cremation Services (Prayer at 6:00PM) (map/driving directions)



Services:
In-state at 10:00AM, Service at 10:30AM at St. Augustine Catholic Church on Friday, January 14th, 2011 (map/driving directions)



Cemetery:
St. Michael's Cemetery
67739 S. Main Street
Richmond, MI 48062-1348 (map/driving directions)