Patricia Ann Cocanig

Patricia “Patty” Ann Cocanig (née Walsh), 66, of Joliet, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home on August 28, 2026.

Patty was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 15, 1959, where she was proudly raised. A dedicated student and lifelong learner, she graduated from Western Illinois University and later went on to earn her Master’s degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Patty spent 30 years working for the State of Illinois as a counselor, where she found true purpose in helping individuals with disabilities. She deeply loved her career and the community she served until her well-deserved retirement.

Outside of her professional life, Patty's greatest joy was her family. She was a loving and devoted wife to her husband, Greg, for 38 wonderful years, and an incredible mother to her three sons, Kevin, Ryan, and Brandon. Her heart grew even larger when she became a grandmother; she absolutely adored her four grandchildren, Raegan, Declan, Giada, and Sloane.

Patty embraced life with a vibrant spirit and a love for the outdoors. She could often be found riding her bike or taking her beloved dog, Knox, out for fresh air. She held a lifelong passion for horses and cherished the special moments she spent taking her granddaughter, Raegan, horseback riding. An exceptional cook, Patty loved hosting dinner for those she cared about. If Patty was in the kitchen, everyone knew the meal was going to be amazing, filled with both incredible food and laughter.

She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Charlotte Walsh, and her brother, George Valley.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Gregory Cocanig; her loving sons, Kevin (Katie) Cocanig, Ryan (Danielle) Cocanig, and Brandon Cocanig; and her four precious grandchildren, Raegan, Declan, Giada, and Sloane. She also leaves behind her sisters, Kathy (Mark) Mayer and Margaret Raab; her brother, James “Jimmy” Walsh; alongside many deeply loved extended family members and lifelong friends.