Patricia "Pat" Spade

Patricia “Pat” Sullivan Burgie Spade, 81, of Columbus, Ohio, passed away on August 28, 2026, surrounded by her family. A beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, teacher, and friend, Pat forever will be remembered for her dedication to children and education, her faith, her love of music, and, above all, her devotion to family. Born December 12, 1944, Pat was raised in Fairfield, Illinois, and was always proud of her hometown roots. The friendships and memories she made there remained an important part of her life. She especially cherished her childhood friendships and the tradition of saying “Amen” together; a daily connection to home that stayed with her throughout her life. Pat was a graduate of Wittenberg University and earned her master’s degree in Education from The Ohio State University. She dedicated more than 25 years to teaching kindergarten. She was an admired teacher and child advocate. She herself approached life with a childlike wonder. Her influence reached far beyond the classroom, touching generations of students and positively impacting their lives 30+ years later. Music was another lifelong love for Pat. An accomplished pianist and flutist, she shared her gift for music by teaching piano for many years. Music was woven into so many parts of her life and was one of the many ways she brought joy to those around her. Her faith and love of church were central to Pat’s life. She was a longtime member of All Saints Lutheran Church, where she sang in the choir and served as a preschool board member. Even after she could no longer drive, her church family made sure she could attend services, and her family is especially grateful. Above all, Pat’s family was her greatest joy. She took enormous pride in her children and treasured every moment with her grandchildren. Pat loved supporting them, whether at a sporting event, arts performance, or school activity. She was always there to cheer them on and celebrate their accomplishments. Pat had an unmistakable gift for making people feel loved, welcomed, and important. She was greatly treasured and will be deeply missed. The joy, goodness, and light she shared with others will never be forgotten. Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Grace Sullivan; her beloved husband, Lee Spade; and her sister-in-law, Donna Sullivan. She is survived by her three children, Todd (Misty) Burgie, Katy (Heath) O’Neal, and Barb (Kevin Satterfield) Burgie; her beloved grandchildren, Annabelle Straty, Taylor O’Neal, Jackson “JD” Satterfield, and Isaac “Parker” Satterfield; her siblings, Michael Sullivan, Tim (Jane) Sullivan, and Kathy (Jay) Burrus; and many cherished nieces and nephews. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the Cotter House of Worthington, Capitol City Hospice, and the many neighbors, friends, caregivers, and others who surrounded Pat with kindness, friendship, and support during the last several years. Their compassion and presence mean more than words can ever express. Services will be held at a future date in Fairfield, Illinois. In Lieu of flowers, please consider donating to: All Saints Lutheran Church Preschool in Worthington, Ohio, or the Kenney Family Foundation through the Cotter House of Worthington. Reflections from her Grandchildren: Grandma was a friend to all and a stranger to none. She enjoyed playing the piano, meeting up with friends for lunch, games of Mahjong, staying active with her family, and spoiling her grandkids. She took great joy in the small things, and she made sure to show everyone around her the beauty of the everyday, too. She marveled at each sunset, stopped in the tracks of each flower, and sang along to each note of the songs that she knew. The relationships that she developed with those she loved were remarkable and individual to each person. She was filled with wonder, curiosity, joy, and light. Grandma was a Buckeye fan through and through. She loved how the sunlight created “diamonds on the lake.” She believed children were the future and made sure to support us as we found our passions, always giving us a “round of applause.” Grandma always found joy and made sure to focus on those little moments with us. Grandma loved many things like pumpkin bread, coffee cake, homemade applesauce, York peppermint patties, Vanilla wafers, and running. She loved spoiling us by taking us back to school shopping, hanging out, or walking around her neighborhood to see the little fishpond, then rewarding us with popsicles for being good. Grandma took any chance she got to spend time with us, even if it was a sports game or a band concert; she was there. Grandma loved nature, especially cardinals. She would sit on her back porch and watch them fly by. Grandma loved Christmas. Her favorite carol was always “Joy to the World”. She would sing it as loud as possible constantly. Sometimes it wasn’t even Christmas season, but to Grandma it was an all-year-round song. She was the best grandma and, most of all, loved her family like no other. We believe she is looking down on us now with a smile on her face, dancing alongside those she loved and missed dearly. May her soul rest in peace and may the Lord’s perpetual light shine upon her.

Patricia "Pat" Spade

December 12, 1944 - August 28, 2026