Patricia Luana Zidar

Patricia Zidar, beloved mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend passed away at home surrounded by family on January 6, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio after battling pancreatic cancer for almost a year.

Pat grew up in Maple Heights, Ohio and was the oldest daughter of Robert and Luana (McNerie) Slack. She is survived by her only sibling and best friend Phyllis Felton. Pat said, “they talked every day and laughed every time they talked.” In later years Pat and Phyllis travelled together to many states and Italy. They called their travels the “Sister Trips.”

Pat attended St. Wenceslaus Grade School and Marymount High School. She met John Patrick Zidar when she was in high school and married him a week after graduation in 1955 (until 1974). They moved to Copperas Cove, Texas where they started a family. After John completed his Army service they moved back to Maple Heights and then Garfield Heights (Cleveland) where John graduated in accounting from Kent State. Pat happily kept a lovely home as a housewife and mother of seven children (six sons and a daughter). They moved to Ft. Mitchel, KY with John’s job and then to Columbus, Ohio in 1970. John and Pat made a permanent home for their family in Columbus and Pat remained there for the next 50+ years. In Columbus, Pat was a member of St. Peter’s and Our Lady of Peace Catholic churches.

After John’s death in 1977, Pat attended Columbus State and became a Registered Nurse which had been her dream since she was 4 years old. It took true resolve to care for seven children as a single mother while obtaining her goals. Pat worked as an RN at The Ohio State University Hospital, until her retirement. Pat showed immense empathy and passion in her profession by providing heartfelt care and treatment for her patients on the prison floor at Ohio State. She always treated prisoners with the decency and respect she felt every human being deserved. Pat made many lifelong friends while working at Ohio State.

Pat was married to Carl Pinkerton from 1979 to 1985 and merged their “Brady Bunch” family. Pat remained close with step daughters Vickie Smith and Caryn Enderle for the rest of her life. If Pat loved you, she did so unconditionally and forever.

It was well known that Pat would, and did, anything and everything for her family. Listening and supporting them every day and in every way throughout their lives. She was not only the best mother, but a best friend to each of them! We will sorely miss the calls on our birthdays where she would sing us “Happy Birthday.” You always knew she loved you because she would always tell you so. Pat cherished her friendships and loved talking with her friends as often as she could. She talked daily to Mary Ann Bayus who was her best friend for 70 years. She was a great listener and always lifted your spirits with every conversation. Pat loved to laugh and had the most wonderful sense of humor.

Pat loved reading books and the morning paper. Sometimes she would read a book in a day. She cherished time with family, talking with them often, for hours on end and loved playing board games and cards with them. She loved when her family gathered together and had special dishes and pies she would cook for each member. Her door was always open and welcoming. She enjoyed gardening (flowers) and loved to walk you around the yard showing off her perennials. She loved feeding and watching the birds, deer, racoons, squirrels and unfortunately the unwanted critters as well. She loved all animals especially horses and dogs and loved going to the Ohio State Fair to stop at every stall and to Charles and Nikki’s to see their horses. She loved going to the zoo in every city she visited. She came to love football late in life and never missed watching the OSU game with her sons. She loved to bowl and go to the movies! She would travel to visit her grandkids all over the US and to Europe multiple times. She was a small person not quite making it to 5’2” but made all her kids “fast walkers.” She took many lessons such as golf, tennis, and swimming to keep up with John but never was too athletic. So when she took up ski lessons in her 50s we were so proud of her tenacity.

Pat had many medical challenges to include multiple breast cancers, a new knee and hip, and two open heart surgeries but you would never hear her complain. She always took challenges in stride and saw the glass half full!

Pat is survived by her sons John of Worthington; Bob of Bexley; Bill of Columbus; Charles (Nikki) of Tarpon Springs, FL; and her daughter Patty (Brian) Brindley of Burke, VA. Forever in her heart: Lisa Zidar and Jennifer Zidar. Also, her grandchildren include John (Sarah) Zidar, Andrew (Bailey) Zidar, Katie (Frank) Bennett, Colin Zidar, Maura (Phillip) Deneault, Julia Zidar, Nicholas Stanos, Lauren (Kevin) Murphy, Paige Brindley, Maggie Brindley, and Alex Zidar. Pat was also blessed to know her great grandchildren Theo, Kolton, Frankie, Owen, and Callighan. Pat also loved her many nieces and nephews and talked with them often.

Pat is preceded in death by her parents, Bob and Luana, and her two beloved sons Jeff Zidar (2018), Jim Zidar (2022) and her ex-husband John Zidar (1977).

Pat told her Cancer Doctor “I had a good life and achieved all I wanted to in life. I had a good run. I got to work as a nurse which I loved so much. I always wanted a big family which I had and I was close to all my kids.”

We couldn’t have asked for a better mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend, and will miss her every day. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all those who knew and loved her.