Patricia Carol Avena, nee Miller, 84, of Northbrook, passed away October 26, 2021. She was the beloved wife for over 55 years of James A. Avena; loving mother of Natalie (Jack) Billig, Roxanne (Michael) Crisanti, and Joe (Dianna) Avena; cherished grandmother of Marielle, Chloe, Bridget, Nick, Alex, Jim, Trevor and Joey; dear sister of the late Lucille Klimowicz, Josephine Nowak, and Irene Calkins; loving aunt of many nieces and nephews. Patricia was a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She taught for 26 years in Niles School District 63. After retiring from teaching and moving to Alpharetta GA, she volunteered as a greeter for their new community where she made many dear friends. While living in New York, she was a volunteer docent at Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay where she was able to share her love for flowers and gardening with many. Visitation will be Monday, November 1, 2021 from 9:15 am until time of the Mass at 10 am at St. Norbert Church, 1809 Walters Ave., Northbrook. (live stream available at (www.northbrookcatholic.church/livestream.html.) Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Heartland Animal Shelter, https://www.heartlandanimalshelter.org/ or the Anti Cruelty Society https://anticruelty.org/donate.