Patricia Ann Loeffler lived her life with a lively sense of humor and joy for life, and her desire for adventure was legendary. She brought vitality to every part of her life, from her dedicated work as an intensive care nurse, to raising her children, to taking outrageous adventures that could entertain friends and family alike. She loved to share bits of trivia and wisdom with especially her grandchildren, but also anyone who was interested and wanted to learn, and touched the lives of everyone who knew her, whether it was for a moment or a lifetime.
Patricia died October 20, in Cedar Park, Texas in her cozy apartment. She was surrounded by her family and her loving caretaker.
She loved her work as a critical care nurse and considered it a privilege to care for patients in great need. Even after decades as a nurse she still cried when her patients died, and she made sure to read their obituaries to remember the lives they led. She had great reverence for her patients. She always kept a sense of humor, even through adverse times for her or her patients. When one of her daughters and a niece later became critical care nurses, she always offered them her words of wisdom to help them through the tough parts of the job.
Patricia never let the demands of work keep her from having a sense of fun in the rest of her life. She once was going to a Julio Iglesias concert in El Paso, and saw him leaving his hotel. She quickly jumped into his limo to get an autograph! Thankfully he obliged, and she jumped out in the nick of time!
She loved listening to Doo Wop and country classics on the radio, her favorites included Kenny Vance’s “Looking for an Echo” and Randy Travis’ “Forever and Ever, Amen”. Subway sandwich workers knew her exact order, including the essential detail that the mayonnaise goes on before the meat. Everyone was a friend, no matter where she was.
Patricia met her future husband John Francis Loeffler II on a double blind date at a dinner club in Long Island, while she was in nursing school. John’s best friend was paired up with her that night. They set up a second date, but “Johnny” talked the friend into letting him go instead. Patricia didn’t know until she opened her door and there he was.
They were married on Sept 10, 1955 in New York, New York. They spent their first year in El Paso, Texas, after John attended officer’s training school in Oklahoma. During their time in the military, they lived throughout the country and the world. While stationed in Rhode Island, daughters Barbara, Eileen and Diane were born at Quonset Point Naval hospital. The following year while Patricia was in Florida, their son John was born, as she stayed with her parents while Johnny was serving in Korea. Their youngest daughter Sarah was born in Maryland at Kirk Army Hospital. Later they lived in France, Belgium, Kansas, and Colorado before returning to El Paso again in 1972, where they retired from the Army. Johnny then worked at Raytheon until his retirement while Pat continued to work as an ICU nurse at what is now Del Sol Hospital until she retired. Pat moved to Austin in 2000 to be closer to several of her children.
An only child, Patricia was born to Emanuel Mically and Pauline Violet Kelly on February 6, 1935, in Queens, New York. Her father was born in Malta, and after immigrating to the US, worked in the steel and refrigeration business in New York City.
After graduating from Bryant High School in 1952 where she was voted the school giggle box. Patricia got her nursing degree from Flower-Fifth Avenue school of Nursing, New York Medical College in 1955. She became a registered nurse Dec 12, 1955.
Patricia’s husband John preceded her in death in 2002 in El Paso, Texas and is buried at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. She is survived by four daughters: Barbara Ann Orr-Pelton, Eileen Marie Held, Diane Louise Yarbrough and Sarah Jean Diedrich; and one son John F. Loeffler III; son-in-laws Michael Pelton, Keith Yarbrough, and daughter-in-law Jennifer Loeffler, plus ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Patricia will be interned in El Paso in Evergreen Cemetery. Her memorial service will be held in Austin on November 5, 2016 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church at 2:30pm.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to a favorite animal charity of your choice in her Boston Terrier’s name, Sparky or Yorkies Beau and Mignon.
Her family wishes to thank all the people who have helped enrich Pat's life. One of the family's favorite saying, which will always be equated to her, is from a medal Johnny gave her in Paris and she wore until her last days: "plus que hier moins que demain" which translates to: "More than yesterday, Less than tomorrow"
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