Patricia Ellen Brooks, 79, Wabash, passed away Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at her home. She was born to the late Joseph  and Grace (McPherson) Blair in Chicago, Illinois on March 17, 1933. She married James John Brooks on August 24, 1968 in Indianapolis, Indiana, he passed away in 1998. She was a homemaker, also she was one of the earlier telephone operators for Bell Telephone in Chicago, Illinois and Wabash. She was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Wabash. She is survived by  son, Joseph Brooks (Tami) of Kokomo, step sons, James Allen Brooks (Patricia) of Wabash, and Jeffrey Brooks  (Lana) of Fort Wayne; step daughter, Mrs. Brenda (Scott) Hughes of Columbia City; sister, Mrs. Diane (Art) Reider of St. Petersburg, Florida; three nieces and nephews, Tim Reider, Matt Reider, and Kathleen MacCarron; nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and son- John Brooks. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at McDonald Funeral Home, 231 Falls Avenue, Wabash, Indiana 46992. Officiating the service will be Father Sextus Don. Burial will follow in Memorial Lawns Cemetery in Wabash. Visitation for family and friends will be from 9 a.m. until time of service at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com