Patricia Ruth Donovan

Pat or Mom, died January 20, 2010 at age 80 after a brave and courageous battle with Dementia and Alzheimer's. She was surrounded for the last years of her life by the loving, caring staff at Grace House of Lake Travis, Hospice Austin, and her loving Daughter, Cecelia Gulick, and Son-in-Law, Paul Gulick. She will be missed by all who knew her and loved her. In her words, she lived a great life and had a great family. Until 2007, Pat lived in Waco, retiring from the Waco Center for Youth in 1995. She had many, many friends that she cherished deeply from her years of service, neighbors, relatives and people she had met along her path of life. Pat's devotion to her family was immense and only briefly left the Waco area and the side of her beloved parents A.C. and Jimmie Ruth Golding, in all the years they were alive. Her husband of 27 years, Carl Donovan, operated many stores around Waco including West Community Grocery until his death in 1995. Pat bravely operated the Grocery after Carl's death until it was sold approximately 3 years later. Then she was able to finally retire. Other surviving relatives include her sister, Rita Gay Healer, brother-in-law, Alan Healer, niece, Laurie McElhaney and her husband, Michael McElhaney. In the end, even though Pat's sickness alienated her from the people she loved, both friends and family, she died quietly and peacefully bathed in the love of her caregivers. It was her wish. She was delivered to the fantastic medical and support community in Austin, TX as she requested. Even in the short time she spent in Austin, she made new friends that will always remember her. There are not enough words to express the gratitude her family feels for the caregivers at Grace House of Lake Travis; Barbara you are the best. It is a joyous place in the face of serious life issues every day. They meet you with a smile, they hug you and wipe away your tears; they laugh and love you no matter what. Thank you so very much. Memorial contributions should be made to Hospice of Austin; thank you Karen, John, Sarah and Jan for your care and support. They are amazing people for the job they do and support they provided for Mom and the family. Please support their efforts whenever you can. Visitation with the family will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 22nd at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. Funeral services will held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 23, 2010 in the Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel. A private burial will be later in the family cemetery plot, China Springs, Texas.