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To Frontenac kindergarten students, Pat Mendicki is the “Leprechaun Lady.”
She cuts out paper parts for a leprechaun’s face and provides them to the Frontenac kindergarten as a craft project.
“I did the first leprechaun in 1982,” Mendicki said. “I found the pattern in a magazine, cut one out and sent it to my first grandson, Shawn Kelly, who was in kindergarten at Fort Worth, Texas. Now his son, my great-grandson Liam, is in kindergarten in New Jersey.”
In 1992 she started taking the leprechauns to the Frontenac kindergarten, when grandson Jarrod Mendicki and his cousin Haley Mendicki were there. “I’ve done it every year since then,” she said.
All of her children — sons Matt, Patrick and Paul and daughter Rosann —and grandchildren, except for Shawn Mendicki, have gone to Frontenac schools. That includes granddaughter Katie Mendicki, in kindergarten in 1994, and grandsons Kadin Mendicki, 1995, and Tanner Mendicki, 1997. Tanner is now attending Frontenac High School, and his proud grandmother loves attending FHS ball games. Mendicki also has a step-grandson, two great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchilden.
Mendicki starts cutting out the leprechaun patterns in October and November.
“I use The Pittsburg Morning Sun to make envelopes for the larger pattern pieces for the leprechaun’s face, hat, hair and tie,” she said. “Then there’s a little envelope for the smaller pieces — two eyes, two eyebrows, two cheeks, a nose and mouth. It’s hard to cut those round circles, believe you me. I’ve got four or five pairs of scissors. My son, Paul, has helped me with the bows and buckles.”
Mendicki has had a rough year, and been hospitalized several times.
“But I got the leprechauns done and took them to the school,” she said.
In addition to Frontenac, her leprechauns have also made it to Texas, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Springfield, Mo., Lakeside, St. Mary’s and George Nettels Schools in Pittsburg, Girard, Arma, a first grade class in Lamar, Mo., and a third grade class in Columbus.
In addition to making leprechauns, Mendicki is a greeter at the Pittsburg Wal-Mart Supercenter. She’s the one who always wears “Smiley Face” earrings.
“It will be 10 years in April that I’ve worked there, and I love it,” she said. “All the kids who work at Wal-Mart are like my grandchildren. They’re wonderful.”
She’s also a regular for polka dances at Barto’s Idle Hour and other area dances, often attending with a group of friends.
To Frontenac kindergarten students, Pat Mendicki is the “Leprechaun Lady.”
She cuts out paper parts for a leprechaun’s face and provides them to the Frontenac kindergarten as a craft project.
“I did the first leprechaun in 1982,” Mendicki said. “I found the pattern in a magazine, cut one out and sent it to my first grandson, Shawn Kelly, who was in kindergarten at Fort Worth, Texas. Now his son, my great-grandson Liam, is in kindergarten in New Jersey.”
In 1992 she started taking the leprechauns to the Frontenac kindergarten, when grandson Jarrod Mendicki and his cousin Haley Mendicki were there. “I’ve done it every year since then,” she said.
All of her children — sons Matt, Patrick and Paul and daughter Rosann —and grandchildren, except for Shawn Mendicki, have gone to Frontenac schools. That includes granddaughter Katie Mendicki, in kindergarten in 1994, and grandsons Kadin Mendicki, 1995, and Tanner Mendicki, 1997. Tanner is now attending Frontenac High School, and his proud grandmother loves attending FHS ball games. Mendicki also has a step-grandson, two great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchilden.
Mendicki starts cutting out the leprechaun patterns in October and November.
“I use The Pittsburg Morning Sun to make envelopes for the larger pattern pieces for the leprechaun’s face, hat, hair and tie,” she said. “Then there’s a little envelope for the smaller pieces — two eyes, two eyebrows, two cheeks, a nose and mouth. It’s hard to cut those round circles, believe you me. I’ve got four or five pairs of scissors. My son, Paul, has helped me with the bows and buckles.”
Mendicki has had a rough year, and been hospitalized several times.
“But I got the leprechauns done and took them to the school,” she said.
In addition to Frontenac, her leprechauns have also made it to Texas, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Springfield, Mo., Lakeside, St. Mary’s and George Nettels Schools in Pittsburg, Girard, Arma, a first grade class in Lamar, Mo., and a third grade class in Columbus.
In addition to making leprechauns, Mendicki is a greeter at the Pittsburg Wal-Mart Supercenter. She’s the one who always wears “Smiley Face” earrings.
“It will be 10 years in April that I’ve worked there, and I love it,” she said. “All the kids who work at Wal-Mart are like my grandchildren. They’re wonderful.”
She’s also a regular for polka dances at Barto’s Idle Hour and other area dances, often attending with a group of friends.
“I’ve been dancing the polka since I was at Frontenac High School,” Mendicki said.
She’s not quite a Frontenac native.
“I was born in Fredonia,” she said. “But I’ve lived in Frontenac since I was a month old.”
The former Pat Modlin, she married Matt Mendicki in 1950 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
“My husband was Frontenac city clerk,” she said. “I’m a widow for going on 30 years.”
An avid Chicago Cubs fan, she has one room of her house filled with Cubs memorabilia.
“I’ve been to Wrigley Field several times, and a year ago my kids surprised me and I got to go to the Cubs’ spring training,” Mendicki said.
Photos of family are all over her house. One of her favorites shows Mendicki, her husband and their family.
“I tell my kids, if there’s ever a fire here, grab that picture,” she said. “I always say that I don’t have much money, but I’m a millionaire with my family. They are the love of my life.”
