Patricia Mary Kocurek, nee Richards, 87, of Aviston, Illinois, born July 20, 1937 in St. Louis, Missouri, died Monday, October 7, 2024 at Aviston Country Manor.

.Pat was the former owner of Big Nick's Tavern and the Iron Skillet in Cahokia, IL, along with her husband, Nick.  They also owned four Fantasy Books stores in the St. Louis area. She was an avid flea market vendor at the Belleville Fairgrounds. She was very active in the Jaycees and the Jayceettes in Cahokia, IL.  She made award winning chili and fish breading. She was a Trek-kie and her and Nick did Star Trek conventions all over the country.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Eva, Venable Richards;a son, Alan Mitchell Tharp; and two brothers, Joseph and William Richards; and a sister, Jan Hardesty.

Surviving are her husband, Nick Kocurek; her children, Connie (Kenny) Foster of Carlyle, IL, Debbie (Richard) Duncan of Cahokia, IL, Carol Golik of Cahokia, IL, Ronnie Theresa Hollland) Tharp of Granite City, IL; Linda (Jeff) Lung , Waterloo, IL, David Kocurek of Carlyle, IL;,David (Sally) Kocurek of Panama City Beach, FL, Joseph (Jackie) Kocurek of Panama Beach, FL, and Maria Swadley of Panama City Beach, FL; a sister, Vckie Herman of New Athens, MO; 16 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren, and one great great grandson.  She was also a dear sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, and friend.

A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at Braun Family Funeral Home, Columbia, Illinois.  A Memorial Service will follow at 12:30 p.m.  A burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.