Patricia Lois Bailey Werling

In Loving Memory of Patricia Lois Bailey Werling

Born: November 2, 1932 – Returned to God: January 15, 2026

With the same grace, elegance, humor and unshakable faith that defined her 93 remarkable years, Patricia Lois Bailey Werling peacefully entered eternal life on the 15th January, 2026, surrounded by the love and adoration of her family — and buoyed by the same gentle prayers she herself had once whispered for so many others.

Born in Detroit, Michigan on All Souls’ Day, Pat was a voracious reader and a joyful force of nature. Alongside her brother Cliff and a gaggle of neighborhood kids, the streets of Detroit were her kingdom. Between her father’s racecars, childhood dreams of piloting planes, a passion for horses, ballet, piano, and impromptu neighborhood plays, she never had idle hands (or feet, for that matter). She even caught the eye of MGM Studios as a young dancer, but her parents — perhaps wisely — declined the offer.

Pat attended Catholic high school, then Siena Heights College, ultimately graduating from Wayne State University to become a third grade teacher — a profession that blended her love of language, learning, and gentle leadership.

At age 22, she was set up on a blind date to the Engineer’s Ball at Grosse Pointe Yacht Club with one of her cousin’s classmates — a handsome, charming engineering student named Richard Engel Werling. They fell for each other over weekends filled with big band music, witty banter, and slow dances. In August of 1955, Pat became Mrs. Richard E. Werling.

Their early years of marriage gave them two sons and took them on an adventure from Michigan to Utah, where Dick joined the pioneering team at Thiokol, working on rocket propulsion for the Minuteman missile project. There, Pat gave birth to their first daughter. When health challenges changed the shape of their growing family, Pat and Dick chose to adopt — eventually welcoming two more children, a girl and a boy a year apart, each from different backgrounds. Five children in total—together, Pat and Dick built a family rooted in faith, laughter, camping trips throughout the West, as well as fierce debates exchanged around after-dinner coffee. Pat remained a staunch believer in the power of education. She invited foreign exchange students into their home from Japan, Venezuela and Iran to foster international culture and understanding.

For over 52 years of marriage, Pat and Dick were a dynamic duo, where church and community service ruled their world. She and Dick were assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Logan, Utah, where they ministered many college students and families, before moving to St. Henry’s in their home town of Brigham City, where Dick also served as Deacon, and Pat joyfully served in the RCIA program, supported her husband’s diaconate journey, and made every church event feel like a family reunion. Pat was an active Girl Scout troop leader for decades, served on the PTA and was an especially passionate advocate for the League of Women Voters. Even though she could be quite shy, she had a gift for seeing people’s needs before they spoke them — and then quietly meeting them, like teaching young immigrants English as a second language, adult literacy, Bible Study and volunteering at the Brigham City Food Pantry. She also helped souls transition for years in Hospice. Her calendar was always full, but her door was always open.

Pat was an artist with stained glass, as well as a master in the kitchen—a gourmet cook whose traditional Polish and German Christmas cookies began production in October and emerged, weeks later, in breathtakingly diverse trays at Christmastime. Her culinary creations occasionally baffled her meat-and-potatoes husband, who often asked, “Are we going to eat this—or did we already?”

Pat’s garden was also legendary — so lush that when a neighbor’s escaped Komodo dragon went missing, he went straight to her backyard, exclaiming, “I knew he’d be in the Garden of Eden!”

Due to Pat’s incredible knack for balancing a life of service with a vibrant family life, she raised five beloved children: Richard Edward Werling (wife Annie) Daniel “Dan” Gerard Werling (wife Cherie), Margaret Mary Werling Barr (husband Darryl), daughter Mary Bridget Werling Cook-Burch (husband Doug Burch) and son Christopher Patrick Werling (wife Vicki), each of whom carries forward her fierce love and unshakable family loyalty.

She is survived by her grandchildren: Niki, Adrienne, Tracy, Richard, Stephanie, Sara, Elizabeth, Katie, Jesse, Rayven, McKenzie, Brent, Baily, Connor, Alex and Bailey, and great-grandchildren: Brandy, Kristy, TC, Adrian, Alexander, Zoey, Lily, Lucus, Sydney, Shannon, Sicily, Bristol, Aubrey, Oliver, Jake, Preston, Zander, William, Kassidee, Brynlee, Rayden, Aaliyah, and Ronan, and all of whom knew her as “Grandma,” and most as simply, “the best.” She never missed a birthday or a chance to proudly brag a bit about each one.

Pat’s last years were spent as independently as her earlier ones; in her own apartment at Maple Springs with her faithful dog, Belle and her new friends. She continued going to church until her last week of life, amongst the incredibly caring parish of St. Henry’s.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband Dick, her mother Antoinette “Annette” Czarnack Bailey and her father, Clifford Jordan Bailey and her brother, Cliff Jr . Though our hearts are heavy, we rejoice in the image of their reunion — likely Dick organizing a wake in Heaven, Annette keeping the saints on schedule, and the two Cliffs racing divinely constructed race cars.

A Vigil Service will be celebrated at St. Henry’s on Tuesday, January 20 with Rosary and Vigil Service at 5:30pm, followed by the viewing until 8pm, and Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Henry’s on Wednesday, January 21 at 11am. Interment will follow at Brigham City Cemetery with a Celebration of Life back at St Henry’s Social Hall immediately following.

The Werling family would love to thank the tremendously caring and talented staff and doctors of Brigham City Community Hospital and Primrose Hospice. We were privileged to have Mom under your exquisite compassion, care, love, and professionalism. We are so grateful to all of you.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Henry’s Catholic Church — or, in Pat’s honor, you can give someone a heartfelt hug, help a neighbor register to vote, volunteer in your community, or teach a child English. She would love that.

And above all, carry this wisdom from Pat's life forward:

You can be a class act, no matter who you are or where you come from.

"Well done, good and faithful servant... Enter into the joy of your Lord." – Matthew 25:21