Pat Briggs

Pat Briggs was born September 22, 1937 in Salisbury, Mo, the 5th of 7 children of Bernard and Irene Wesselman. When Pat was 8 years old, the family moved to a farm in Palacious, Texas. She described experiencing culture shock at the change in her surroundings and home life, and soon learned the value of hard work as all of the children had to milk the cows and do early morning chores on the farm. She belonged to 4 H and was a float princess. She was on the basketball team in high school.

At age 17 she graduated high school 2nd in her class as salutatorian, and entered Seton School of Nursing on a scholarship in Austin TX. She and friends Jean Wilkins, Sandy Day, Henri Lipiec, Ann Kuemple, Gretchen Kuempel and others learned how to run entire wards and hospitals, diploma nurses had to have mastery before graduation, and the program made certain they did. Stories of their lives in school included plenty of after curfew partying and shenanigans. The camaraderie and hard work that led to a lifetime of nursing service and overall service to others was a constant theme in Pat's life.

It was as a nursing student that Pat met Stan Briggs, the visitor of one of her patients. He was so taken by her that he was able to finagle her phone number from one of the nuns who ran the program, and he was finally able to get her to go out with him and the rest is history.

They married the same year Pat graduated from Seton School of Nursing. They moved into a home in Allandale in Austin the same house where she lived until her death. In 1959 they welcomed their first child, Cindy, soon followed by another daughter, Becky.

Pat had a long nursing career that included floor, ICU and administrative nursing. She worked at Holy Cross, Brackenridge, Seton, Dept. of Health and Human Services as an inspector for nursing homes and hospitals where she traveled for work. She also worked at the State School where she cared for her “kids” who lived in the facility long term. Each job she had she approached with integrity and strength that earned her much admiration. Together with Stan, Pat spent many hours at Caritas, now called Volunteer Health Clinic each week volunteering together.

While she had two of her own children, she also mothered, nurtured and cared for numerous other children and adults throughout her life. Caring for others and giving her time and resources to others were truly what made her come alive and get out of bed in the morning. She was truly gifted in helping others succeed, thrive, heal and have better lives. She seemed to know what others needed and did her best to give that to them. Giving was her magic, to the benefit of a countless number of people.

Both Pat and Stan completely enjoyed boating and owning lake property. In 1984, Pat’s younger brothers Bob and Don Wesselman built a home for the family on Lake Travis. They entertained family and friends there often, which gave them great joy, including watching fireworks on the 4th of July from the balcony of the lake house.

During PTA at Gullett School in the early 70s, Pat and Stan met Mel and Gloria Pennington, who with Lisa and Clark, became an extended second family to them. Many hours of fun occurred at each other’s homes, participating in the MDA telethons, as well as a two family trip to Mexico City.

When Pat loved you, you became family. Terry June, Dickie, and their family were family to her, as were Susan Skyler and Nathan and Angie. She loved all her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. When Ben and Katie, their grandchildren were born, Pat and Stan were in high heaven. They watched the kids and helped out with them and made great memories when the kids were young.

Travel included trips to Plaquemine La to visit Stan's relatives as well as Alaska, Rome, and several European river cruises. They also traveled with John, Becky, Ben and Katie to Disneyworld, and to San Diego.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Benard and Irene Wesselman, a brother John Wesselman as well as her husband Stan Briggs and her daughter Cindy Briggs and grandson Ben Yatsu. She is survived by daughter Becky Yatsu, granddaughter Katie Yatsu as well as brothers Roy Wesselman, Don Wesselman, Bob Wesselman, sisters Sr. Jean Wesselman, DC and Vivian Turner and numerous nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to caregivers Dilly, Wase, Siphewe and Wezi as well as Hospice Austin nurses Debbie and Patricia, who all went well beyond the call of duty to provide outstanding care for Pat in her last few months. Special thanks also to Mary Ann Wesselman, a niece as well as niece Terry June and husband Dickie Woolery and Susan Skylar for all the end of life attention, love and care for Pat as well as support for Becky and Katie.

Services for Pat will be at Cook-Walden chapel 6100 N Lamar Blvd, Austin TX, 78752