Obituary of Patricia Fuxan

FUXAN, Patricia Ann Peres, 85, entered eternal peace on September 4, 2012, at Mary’s House, Gainesville, Fla., after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was born to George Lay Peres and Lillian L. Knowles on June 8, 1927, in the Algiers section of New Orleans, La. Patricia began dancing at age three and loved ballet and tap. She attended Belleville Grammar School and Eleanor McMain Secondary School. In 1947, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in English literature and education at Newcomb College of Tulane University. At age 16, Pat met Arthur Fuxan, the love of her life, at a rain-soaked Labor Day picnic in City Park. Arthur could tell she was special, as sweet and kind as she was pretty. Their mutual love for swing dancing and God, and their genuine enjoyment of each other’s company gave both a sense that they would marry one day. The couple exchanged a daily stream of letters when Arthur served the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. They married in 1949 at Holy Name of Mary Church and settled in Aurora Gardens in New Orleans. Upon graduating from college, Patricia taught kindergarten at Belleville Grammar School, which so pleased the principal and faculty members who had taught her as a child. In 1969, Arthur was transferred to Tampa, Fla., where Patricia taught fifth grade at Citrus Park Elementary until retiring in 1989. Even before retirement, Patricia and Arthur loved to travel. They visited each of the lower 48 states, as well as Alaska. They also toured Austria, Canada, Germany, Israel, Mexico, Italy, and Switzerland. Among Patricia’s favorite things were tending her garden, square dancing with the Bay Area Twirlers, and serving St. Paul’s Catholic Church as an enthusiastic parishioner and Eucharistic Minister. She baked delicious pies and pound cakes, she adored pansies, she taught her grandchildren how to read. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother. She was predeceased by her parents; Godmother, Ethel Holton; and all members of the prior generation as well as cousins, Elaine Knowles Hemard, Danny Knowles, Oliver Knowles, and Bobby Keller. She is survived by her husband Arthur J. Fuxan, Jr.; children Michele (Dennis) Jones, Timothy (Debra) Fuxan, David (Michelle) Fuxan, and Lisa (John) Mizell; grandchildren, Nicole, Amber, Blaise, Brian, Michael, Amy, Amie, Thomas, Scott, Vanessa, Shane, Becky, Amy, Trey, Jennifer, Mary, and Sarah; 21 great grandchildren; cousins Joel Conrad, Margaret Hotard, and Sr. Cynthia Knowles. A memorial mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 15th at St. Paul’s Catholic Church. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. Vincent De Paul Society, St Paul's Catholic Church, or University of South Florida Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute. [[][[]]http://health.usf.edu/byrd/partner.htm].