Patricia Danielle Eaton

Patricia Danielle Eaton passed away peacefully on March 17, 2026, at Chateau De Notre Dame in New Orleans at the age of 79 and entered into eternal rest. She was born on August 22, 1946, in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Patricia is survived by her loving sisters, Cathryn Eaton Green and Jean Eaton Jackson; her loving brother, James William Eaton (Judy); her niece, Juliette E. Zoroya (Brett); her nephew, Cody R. Jackson (Melissa); her great-nieces and great-nephews, Grady J. Zoroya, Jordan Z. Tomberlin, Avery A. Jackson, Cole R. Jackson, and Joseph Ward; her goddaughter, Kay P. Breaux; and many cousins, loved ones, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Clark Gibson Eaton; her mother, Wilma Derose Eaton; her brother, Clark J. Eaton; and her nephew, Jeremy C. Eaton.

Pat, or “Patty” as she was affectionately called, was born in Bowling Green, KY. She returned to New Orleans with our family at the age of 4. She attended St. Maurice for grammar school and Annunciation High School and graduated from Chalmette Senior High in 1964. That summer, she was called into the service of Our Lord and joined The Sisters of the Most Holy Sacrament Convent in Lafayette, LA. She lived in the Mother House under her religious name, Sister Marie Danielle. As his faithful servant for over 25 years, she served many roles at the convent but mostly taught in grammar school in Lafayette and many surrounding parishes, including St. Maurice and St. Joseph’s. During that time, she received a BA in elementary education, graduating Cum Laude from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Our family enjoyed many Sunday visits with her and the other sisters at the Convent, bringing her favorite chocolates and listening to her play the ukulele.

After many years of devoted religious service, Patty answered another spiritual call and made the courageous decision to serve Our Lord in a different capacity. She came home to New Orleans to study nursing, which was a long-cherished dream she held close to her heart. She graduated from Charity Hospital/Delgado School of Nursing in 1995 and set out on a new journey of spiritual devotion in caring for the sick. For many years, she worked at Charity Hospital and University Hospital in the ICU, Medical-Surgical Unit, and Telemetry. In the final years of her career, Patty began her last duty working as a home health nurse, which she felt was some of the most fulfilling work of her career. Outside the busy hospital environment, she was able to spend more time with her patients, most of whom were elderly and frail, in the comfort of their own homes. Patty often said that caring for the elderly and frail was the most rewarding part of her life of spiritual service to the community. She retired after a long life of service to others when her health declined in her long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Patty was a remarkable person who lived a remarkable life of service to others. She was quiet and shy, an ever-present source of solace to her family and loved ones. We give thanks to her friends at Chateau De Notre Dame who read scripture with her and prayed the Rosary. Patty had a lifelong intellectual thirst for knowledge and was an avid reader, from religion to fiction to biographies. She read the entire Harry Potter series in the last year of her life. She was an avid armchair birdwatcher from inside the house with her binoculars at her side. She loved football - the Saints, LSU, and Notre Dame. She loved the beach and the quiet nature of the countryside. She loved animals, especially her cat friends Amelia, Max, and Maggie. Truly a gentle soul, she was the sweetest and kindest of all our siblings. She was the very best of all of us. She was always ready with a reassuring, calming word. Patty was very loving and was deeply loved by all our family and friends. We will miss her with all our hearts until the day we reunite in Heaven.

The family would like to give special thanks to the nurses and staff at Chateau De Notre Dame Nursing Home and to the staff at Compassus Hospice for the care and comfort they provided her in the last months of her life. To Renette, Dora, Lynne, and Jay for their spiritual support and prayers with Patty.

A Visitation will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 4640 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. The Louisiana Nurse Honor Guard of Greater New Orleans Nightingale Tribute will be presented prior to the Funeral Mass, officiated by Fr. Augustine “Auggie” DeArmond, beginning at 12:00 p.m. Inurnment will immediately follow at St. Patrick Cemetery #3, Queen of All Saints Cremation Garden, 143 City Park Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Though deeply missed, Patricia’s legacy of love, faith, and service will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew her.