Patricia Jean Benson

She died of complications from vascular dementia/Alzheimers.

She was born in Pittsburgh, PA on August 20th, 1934.

After graduating high school, she attended a 4 year nursing program at Pittsburgh Hospital where she earned her Registered Nursing degree.

She served as a nurse in the United States Navy and was stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas where she raised her 3 children, Ronnie, Linda and Ricky. Her home had a revolving door welcoming family, friends, neighbors, stray dogs, stray people, anyone that needed a place of comfort or just wanted to have a good time.

PJ’s work ethic meant if she could align her life passion for nursing with purpose and persistence, the lines between ‘working and playing’ dissolve and become one ever flowing part of your life. She loved being a nurse and loved sharing her nursing responsibilities with her best friend, Rosalie, who was also a nurse.

PJ’s passion in life was to serve others. She lived her life to help, to give, to comfort, to provide, to listen, to understand, to encourage, to heal, to rescue, to offer nourishment, but most of all to love.

She loved the words, written by Franklin P. Jones, “Love doesn’t make the world go round, Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.”

After retiring at the age of 71, her venture was caring for her great grandson Braedon. Additional interests included spending as much time as possible with family and friends, enjoying long phone conversations with her sister Kerry, and her lifelong friend Lois, outings with her friend Ruth, reading, listening to music, collecting coins, working jigsaw puzzles, making homemade amaretto, watching sitcoms, soaking in the hot tub, and traveling.

She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Deasy, her brothers Paul and Jack Deasy, her youngest son, Richard Parks and her grandson, Austin Day.

PJ is survived by her son, Ron Parks and wife Cindy, her daughter, Linda Parks Marz, her sister Karen M. Deasy, her grandchildren, Jeannie Parks Margraves and husband Matthias, Rori Parks Sheffield and husband Brandon, Chase Marz and Michelle and Sunni Pritchard, Taylor Parks Ashby and husband Billy, Richard Parks, Jr. and wife Ilona, and Kendal Parks. Her great grandchildren are Dylan Johnston, Braedon Sheffield, Greyson Margraves, Noah Margraves, Jaeden Sheffield, Ian Parks Smith, and Emma Marz.