Patricia G. Papaneri

Patricia (Miss Pat) is survived by her husband of 64 years, Anthony (Tony) Papaneri of Haughton, and children, Christine Whitehurst (Brian) of Cincinnati, Ohio; Thomas Papaneri (Helen) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Anthony Papaneri (Jennifer) of Helena, Montana as well as grandchildren, Lauren, Caitlin, Matthew, Sean, Sarah, Michael, Drew and Colin and niece, Donna McCardell of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Rosary Services will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 425 McCormick St., Bossier City. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 am, officiated by Msgr. Earl Provenza. Inurnment will follow at Hill Crest Memorial Park in Haughton.

Patricia was an only child born January 11, 1930 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to parents Sarah and Bryan Knight. The family moved shortly after her birth to Vassar, Michigan where she spent most of her youth being raised during the depression in a home her father built by hand. She returned to Philadelphia and attended St. Joseph’s College graduating with a BA in Education, where she met her husband Anthony Papaneri. They were married at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in 1956 and hold the honor of the first alumni of St. Joseph’s College to marry.

Patricia was proud of her years as an educator having started her career at St. John’s Catholic School near Philadelphia, Pa. with 66 third grade boys in double desks. She also was a beloved third grade teacher at Christ the King Catholic School in Bossier City for 13 years.

Following her marriage to Anthony, she spent 28 years as a USAF wife, with assignments across the United States including tours in Puerto Rico and the Philippine Islands during the Vietnam War. As an Air Force wife, she participated in many charitable activities, volunteering countless hours to the OWC (Officers’ Wives Club) as well as serving in leadership roles in various Catholic parishes. She held a deep devotion to her faith and would always know which Patron Saint to call upon when her family needed extra guidance.

Patricia was known for her loving and patient personality, having rarely raised her voice even while teaching large classrooms of third graders. Her lifelong devotion to husband and family fostered deep and lasting relationships within her family. She loved her role as grandmother to eight grandchildren who absolutely adored her. Grandmom will be remembered for goody bags, pink flamingos, her poofy hair and matching Christmas pajamas for the entire family, every year, without fail, but mostly for her unfaltering love and support.

Additionally, Miss Pat enjoyed daily four-mile walks for a large portion of her life, shopping for bargains for everyone except herself and faithfully feeding a large contingent of birds and squirrels in her beautiful backyard garden created by her husband. She also sponsored non-profit groups catering to underprivileged children and animal rescue organizations.

She would want to thank the many friends and caregivers, including lifelong friends Joyce and Hal Magner, her adopted “Little Sister” Shirleyann and Tom Gleason, Mary Morgan and family for her visits and their prayers, adopted son Brien Quigley for his ever watchful eye and Mary Daniels for her love and tender care these last months especially. Additionally, the family would like to thank the staff of St. Joseph’s Hospice Care for their compassion when needed most, the guidance and respectful care provided by Hill Crest Memorial and the entire Parish community of Christ the King Church through the past forty-four years.