Patricia Mary McNeely

Patricia Mary (Kage) McNeely, sassy sister, loving mother, exceptional grandmother and fantastic great grandmother passed away on January 4, 2023 at the age of 83. Pat was born in Highland Park to Gerald and Emma McNicholl on October 15, 1939. She grew up in Troy and went to County Line Elementary and Clawson High School. She was married to Ronald G. Kage for 43 years until he passed in 2006. Over the years she raised her kids and worked as a seamstress at Ford Motor Company as well as a bookkeeper in numerous office jobs. Her excellent cooking and people skills were put to use when she owned The Nickelodeon ice cream parlor in Grayling. After retiring to Roscommon she ran a successful restaurant and catering business called PaDi’s Pine Pantry in Higgins Lake. After Ron’s death she moved to Shelby Township to be closer to family. Pat eventually reconnected with her first husband, Harold McNeely, and they remarried after 54 years apart. They lived in Taylor until his passing in 2015. Pat was the type of person who didn’t hesitate to load up three preteen grandkids in a convertible and drive them to Cheyenne. Always the trickster, she once drove her motorhome close to the edge of the Mackinac Bridge just to get a rise out of her granddaughter in the passenger seat, calling her a “wooz” instead of “wuss,” cracking everyone up. Another time she packed up all her catering supplies and dishes in her van and drove them out west to Wyoming so she could cook for her granddaughter’s wedding. She showed us how to cook….but didn't measure ingredients and laughed with love when we asked “how much?” Never one to give up her secrets, she would give you a recipe leaving out a key step or ingredient. If you really wanted to know how she cooked you had to stand and watch without being allowed to participate. Pat and Ron had talked about remodeling the old house in Almont but Dad waited a little too long for Mom. To our amazement, she got up from the dinner table one night, grabbed a hammer and pounded a big hole in the wall. When she wanted something done she just did it. At only 4’10’’ Pat was the measuring stick for ALL kids. Everyone stood as tall as possible around her and teased her when we were taller than she. She was fearless, once climbing across ceiling joists to help run electrical lines for the mountain cabin. Pat loved fast cars and driving. Growing up with brothers who liked racing, she never shied away from a stoplight-to-stoplight race, besting the local boys with her hemi Plymouth that her brother Pete built. She continued to be a “lead foot” even into her later years, never hesitating to step on it to the surprise of many. Pat enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors and the peace of the woods…from behind a window avoiding those nasty gnats. We miss you Mom, Grandma. Rest in peace. Pat is survived by her children Michael (Danielle) Kage, Deborah Scott, Alice (Dave) Sullivan, Ronald (Ken) Kage; her brother Thomas McNicholl and sister Cynthia (Fred) Voelker; her grandchildren Shawn, Cassie, Stephanie, Jami, Ben, Zakary, Jeffrey, Cody, Nikki and Bobbie; and her great-grandchildren Emma, Ava, Marlowe, Connor, Kaydence, Caleb, Ivy, and Olivia; and many nieces and nephews. Pat was preceded in death by her loving husbands Ronald G. Kage and Harold McNeely; son Robert Kage, grandson Nickolas Kage, and her brothers John “Jack” McNicholl and Pete “Sonny” McNicholl. A Memorial Visitation will take place on Saturday January 28th from 3-8pm with a 6pm Memorial Service at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons 36900 Schoenherr at Metro Parkway (16 Mile Rd). Share memories with the family at their "On-Line Guest Book" @ WujekCalcaterra.com. Memorial donations may be given to the Alzheimer's Association by mail (Alzheimer's Association Michigan Chapter, 25200 Telegraph Rd., Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48033), phone (800-272-3900) or online (https://www.alz.org/gmc/donate). The family of Pat wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the staff at The Villa at City Center who cared for and supported her and the family in her last years

Patricia Mary McNeely

October 15, 1939 - January 4, 2023