Patricia Mastropier Jeans

Patricia (Pat) Mastropier Jeans of Austin, Texas, passed away on September 4, 2006, following a brief illness in the wake of her relatively short but fatiguing battle with lung cancer. The youngest of ten children, Pat was born on October 2, 1934, in Universal, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh. Her parents, Michael and Rose Mastropier, had immigrated to the United States from Foggia, Italy, in the early 1900s. Pat earned a B.S. in Chemistry, summa cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh, where she was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. A University of Chicago Fellow, Pat pursued graduate studies before settling into a lengthy career as a technical writer and editor. For many years, she worked with Science Research Associates (SRA), a subsidiary of IBM in Chicago, where she earned an IBM Merit Award for her work on DISTAR (Direct Instructional System for Teaching Arithmetic and Reading) and wrote and edited tests published by SRA, including the National Merit Scholarship Test and the American College Test. Following her marriage in 1967 to Robert (Bob) Jeans, M.D., she worked as the office manager for his medical practice, and continued her work as a freelance writer and editor. In the early 1970s Pat and her husband left Chicago to start a family in Richmond, Indiana. After her husband's death in 1977, Pat relocated with her daughter Rose to Austin, where she worked for Radian Corporation as a technical writer, and later for Travis County. In the early 1990s, she earned a paralegal certificate from Southwest Texas State University and embarked on a rewarding career as a much-beloved legal assistant, initially with the Natural Resources division of the Texas Office of the Attorney General and subsequently with the law firm Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, where she cultivated many treasured friendships. Known for her extraordinary intelligence and exceptional writing and editing skills, Pat exemplified a remarkable work ethic and exacting attention to detail throughout her professional career. In her younger years, Pat was an avid golfer, tennis player, and gardener. Noted also for her superb culinary skills, she was a master pie baker whose incredible pies delighted those fortunate enough to have enjoyed them. Once she even took home the 1st-runner-up award in the Texas Beef Cookoff (during her pre-vegetarian years), and later netted another prize in a Pace (TM) Picante recipe contest. A long-time member of St. David's Episcopal Church, Pat felt called to the Stephen Ministry during times of better health, and found that service immensely rewarding. A true "yellowdog" Democrat, Pat will always be remembered for her generous heart, compassionate nature, quick wit, and delightful sense of humor. But truly her most cherished accomplishment was the rearing of her lovely daughter Rose. She was preceded in death by her husband Bob; most of her siblings, including Betty Cecere of Richmond, Indiana, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer earlier this year; Roxena Mastropier, Ann Nemec, Mary Nemec, Blaine Mastropier, and Paul Mastropier of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is survived by her daughter, Rose Jeans Hudson; son-in-law, Warren Hudson; and dog-son, Louis Lamont "Loubert" Jeans. She is also survived by many nephews and nieces, including Joanne Frey of Pittsburgh. Having touched many lives, Pat will be greatly missed by those so richly blessed to have known her, including her close friends Cathryn Cole and Leonard Atkinson, who devoted special care to her during her illness. The family wishes to extend their gratitude for the exceptional care Pat received in recent months. Special thanks to Dr. Hunter Kirkland, Dr. Andrew Hume, and nurse Nicola of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeons; Dr. Demetrius Loukas and the staff at Southwest Regional Cancer Center; Dr. Shannon Cox, nurses Cindy and Kathy, and other staff of the Austin Cancer Center; Dr. Michael Watkins and P.A. Julie Bighouse of Austin Heart; Dr. Christopher Dehan of Austin Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic; and all of the Pulmonary & Critical Care physicians, nursing staff, and respiratory therapists at the Seton Medical Center ICU. The family also deeply appreciates all of the visits and assistance provided by St. David's Episcopal Church clergy and Chaplain Kevin Sheehan of Seton Medical Center. A visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, September 6, 2006, at Weed Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar, in Austin. The memorial service will be held on Thursday, September 7, 2006, at 1:00 P.M. in the Historic Sanctuary at St. David's Episcopal Church, 304 East 7th St., in Austin. Pat will be laid to rest beside her deceased husband Bob in Earlham Cemetery, Richmond, Indiana. For those wishing to make memorial contributions, the family suggests the following in lieu of flowers: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101; St. David's Episcopal Church, 304 East 7th St., Austin, TX 78701; Family Eldercare, 2210 Hancock Dr., Austin, TX 78756; or any charity of your choice. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com