Patricia Lea “Pat” Carman, beloved wife of John Carman and co-founder of StandFast Packaging, passed away on August 7, 2025, at the age of 88. She was surrounded by family at the Ascension Alexian Brothers Hospice Residence in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.
She graduated from Amundsen High School, was admitted to the University of Illinois and attended for one year (receiving straight A’s, she would remind you) before marrying John Carman (her husband of 64 years).
When John wanted to start his own business to support their growing family, she supported his dream, along with his partner John Morris, to create StandFast Packaging.
She helped to build the business as the Accounting Manager and resident Cobol programmer. She worked alongside her husband and eventually four of her sons, led by Jay Carman, along with sons John Jr., Keith, and Scott Carman.
Both sets of Pat’s grandparents were immigrants from Germany and Sweden, and she viewed her uniquely persistent and stubborn nature to her family background. She was also wickedly smart, jumping two grades in grammar school, loved art and music, played the piano and later spent summers in Wisconsin on her uncle’s farm.
Pat was charming, quick-witted, funny, opinionated and often blunt. Her life was also filled with athletics and adventures, all of which were initially unfamiliar to her, but for which she was totally game to try. These included skiing, golfing, biking, nervously watching her children participate in more sporting events than could ever be counted, and racing horses. Pat also travelled extensively throughout her life across the US and the world by car, boat, train, and plane. But only once by camper van, and never, ever again.
Her abiding interests were music, including musical theater and opera, art of all kinds, the beauty of the natural world and the Midwest, and her own form of libertarianism.
She made numerous friends throughout her life. She was continuously open to meeting new people, always up for a party and trying new things, and creating meaningful relationships throughout her life. Pat was deeply devoted and loyal to her friends and strongly rooted to the neighborhood and friends as they raised their children and then grew older and wiser together.
Pat is survived by her six children, seventeen grand and great-grandchildren, A celebration of her life will be held October 10, 2025, in Chicago. Donations may be made to the Ascension Alexian Brothers Hospice Residence in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.
https://boardconvertingnews.com/patricia-carman-co-founder-of-standfast-packaging-passes-away/
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