Patricia (Steigerwald) Cool

Patricia Steigerwald Cool passed peacefully on Saturday, February 28, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was born June 10, 1935 in Auburn to Romain and Stella Walczyk Steigerwald. 

Upon graduating from East High School a member of the Class of 1953, she married Charles Cool and worked for the telephone company. Soon after, she was employed as a dispatcher for the City of Auburn Police Department, where she remained, working midnight to 8:00 am for thirty-nine years and as a 9-1-1 operator, until retiring at the age of seventy-five. She loved this job, and the people who came with it were her second family.

Patricia’s proudest accomplishment are her eight children. She had a rare ability to connect with people and her distinctly motherly, yet humorous style was appreciated by many. She informally adopted many co-workers, neighbors and friends, and was fondly referred to as Mrs. C or Mama Cool. She found great joy in the everyday, loved all sports, and was an avid shopper who loved a bargain. Lunches with her devoted high school friends, travel and camping, and especially hosting large, noisy holiday gatherings were her favorite things to do. The consummate matriarch, she always made time to entertain her precious grandchildren and any other child she’d meet. She loved to cook and share but never used a recipe despite writing a fantastic recipe book.                                             

In addition to her parents, Patricia is predeceased by her husband, Charles Cool; her beloved grandson Adam Lemczak; sister Marianne Thorn; brother Robert Steigerwald; sister-in-law Lillian Steigerwald; nephews Phillip Thorn and David Steigerwald. 

She is survived, and will be greatly missed by her eight children; Ruthann Jagge (Michael), Chris Ellen Lemczak (Nick), Michael Cool (Leane), John Cool (Lisa), Mary Moriarty (Mort), Barbara Meeks (Harvey), Rebecca Hartmann (Bob) and Tricia Lorenz (Jason); 9 grandchildren; Brian (Rachelle), Bridget (Joey), Emilee (Ty), Jessalyn, Brandon (Morgan), Ian, Cameron, Abigail and Jana; 6 great grandchildren, Hannah, Jacob, Conner, Hailey, Rylie and Brooks; the recent twinkles in her eye, Juliette and Charlotte, her great-great grandchildren; and many others who called her Mama Cool, Mrs. C, Pat or other endearing names over her exceptional lifetime.

Friends are invited to call on the family Thursday, March 5, 2026 from 11:00 am to 12:45 pm in St. Mary's Church, 15 Clark St., Auburn. Patricia's Funeral Mass will follow at 1:00 pm. Arrangements are with White Chapel Funeral Home Inc., Auburn. 

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested a donation to the Victor/Farmington Ambulance www.victorfarmingtonambulance.org or the Matthew House in Auburn www.matthewhouse.org/giving. 

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