Patricia Lynn O'Rourke

Patricia Lynn O’Rourke (Pat) passed away on March 4, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas following a five-year battle with cancer. She is preceded in death by her father (Sylvester) in December of 1994 and mother (Jeanette) in May of 2016. She is survived by five brothers (Mike, Mark, Malcolm, Marty, and Mitch) and one sister (Kathy).

Pat was born on November 27, 1952, in Waupun Wisconsin and the family moved to Illinois in 1955 where Pat attended grade and high school. Pat was Valedictorian of her Minooka Illinois High School graduating class and went on to attain her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Southern Illinois (SIU) at Carbondale. While attending college she also worked at local nursing homes. Following this, Pat attended the University of Washington in Seattle where she obtained her master’s degree in nursing with emphasis in Oncology care. She stayed close with her Sorority sisters from SIU her whole life.

Patricia always thought she might enter the convent or join the military. Following graduate school Pat joined the US Army entering in at the rank of Captain. Pat earned her Airborne Wings after attending jump school, had over 40 parachute jumps, and worked with special operations medical personnel in the medical field operations. Pat did tours in Korea, Washington DC, Haiti, San Francisco, Fayetteville NC, and San Antonio Texas. Pat was very proud of her country and her military service. She retired after 22 1/2 years and achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She had the opportunity to advance even further but thought the path would take her farther away from patient interactions which was something she hoped to do more of.

Following her military service, Pat worked at the Veterans hospital in San Antonio then moved to the CTRC (Cancer Therapy and Research Center) in San Antonio where she oversaw nursing for clinical trials for patients whose cancer failed to respond to conventional treatments. While the job was tough duty, Pat’s concern for her patients kept her going including many long hours of unpaid time that she was willing to do to help those in her care. She always admired her patients and said they were her best teachers on how to handle one’s own disease. She handled her own cancer case with grace, courage, and faith.

Besides serving her country and patients, Pat also served her church. She was always very strong in her Catholic faith and attended Holy Spirit Church in San Antonio where she served as Eucharistic minister and helped in various other functions as well as fundraisers. Pat was dedicated to the Catholic women’s retreat organization known as ACTS (Adoration, Community, Theology and Service) which she attended and helped organize the retreats.

Pat enjoyed participating in sports and outdoor recreational pursuits. One of Pat’s great loves were her dogs. During her lifetime she had 6 different Labrador retrievers. Pat was a devoted fan of the Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packers. She stayed a lifelong fan no matter where she traveled in life.

Pat’s life was one of service to her country, her faith, and her patients. Pat was fortunate in that through her career, church, and school she was afforded many circles of dedicated, caring friends. She will be missed dearly by her family, friends, and those she touched during her life . While we will miss her, we are glad she is with our Lord Jesus Christ and will cherish the memory and the example she set. In lieu of flowers, Pat and the family ask you to please consider a donation to either Holy Spirit Catholic Church San Antonio, or the Humane Society.

ROSARYSATURDAY, MARCH 18, 202310:30 AMHOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH

MASSSATURDAY, MARCH 18, 202311:00 AMHOLY SPRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH