Patricia Joyce Block

Patricia Joyce Sorrell was born on March 17, 1938 to Margaret and Flevius Sorrell in Webster, South Dakota. She was a preemie who was born at home, the "incubator" her parents used were a cigar box as her "crib" along with a light bulb to keep her tiny body warm. From the day she was born, she was a determined fighter who was blessed by God and guarded by angels. She attended Webster schools and graduated in 1957. After graduation, she and her sister Elaine moved to St. Paul and shared an apartment in the Cathedral Hill area. She worked in administrative positions, and was in the first wave of workers who worked with the "new" technology, the IBM computer. In September of 1959, she married Floyd Block and became Patricia Joyce Block. They made their new home in Minnesota. In August of 1960, they had their first daughter, Carmen and in April of 1962 they welcomed their second daughter, Sharon. She had a special place in her heart for her grandchildren. They warmly reminisce about sleepovers at her house, how she would take them to the Cathedral in St Paul on those weekends to make church special for them. Another favorite outing spot they remember are the trips to Como Zoo. She always insisted on making the perfect birthday cakes for them - their absolute favorite, of course. Grandma spoiled the boys, and they loved her for it - and for her very special "grandma love". Pat was a talented knitter, crocheter, sewer and she enjoyed many other various crafts. She had worked many years at Quality Park in St Paul, and just as she was reaching retirement age, she learned that she had kidney cancer and would need to have one of her kidneys removed. She came through the surgery and recovery like a trooper, and then decided that she would set out on an adventure of a lifetime, and she moved to Kauai, Hawaii for a couple of years. While she loved the climate, she missed her family and moved back to Arizona to be near her brother, Jerry. Pat and Jerry were very close, and enjoyed spending time with each other. In a few years, Pat decided to move back to Minnesota to be near her girls, Carmen and Sharon and she moved to Forest Lake, which is where she resided until her passing. Her faith in the Lord was very strong, she was a member of Saint Peter's church in Forest Lake. Her passing Christmas morning seems very fitting knowing how strong her love and faith were. We wonder if she didn't have any "pull" over the timing, and to wait to transition into heaven until the day the world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. We are certain it warms her heart either way. She is survived by her daughters, Carmen (Kevin) and Sharon (Marty), 4 grandsons Marty (Katie), Brian (Korina), Michael (Sara) and Robert, as well as 6 great grandchildren. The world will be a different one for all of us without her presence, and she will be sadly missed. A mass of Christian burial will take place at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Forest Lake, MN 11AM Monday, January 3rd. Visitation one hour prior to service. Interment at Calvary Cemetery.