Patricia McNamara Groetsch

Patricia McNamara Groetsch, 94, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Born on October 4, 1931, in New Orleans, Patricia lived a long and meaningful life marked by kindness, resilience, and a deep devotion to God, the Catholic church, her family, and her prayer group.

A proud New Orleanian, Patricia graduated from St. Mary’s Dominican High School in 1948. She attended Loyola University, where she and her three best friends all imagined the size of the good Catholic families that they would each produce; she came in last with only seven children. Upon graduation, she went on to share her love of learning as a middle school mathematics teacher, touching the lives of countless students with her patience, clarity, and steady encouragement. As a volunteer, she spent years as an ambassador with the Preservation Resource Center in their Stained Glass in Sacred Places Tours throughout the diocese. She then returned to Loyola at the age of 60 to earn her Master's in Mathematics Education.

Patricia was known for her gentle strength and the quiet grace with which she moved through the world. She had a gift for making others feel welcomed and cared for, whether through a warm conversation, a thoughtful gesture, or simply her steady presence. Her life was rooted in God with love for her family, her community, and the traditions that connected her to her New Orleans heritage. She was the heart of her family, offering guidance, humor, and unwavering support across generations. Her children will remember her as a source of comfort, wisdom, and unconditional love. The faith, compassion, and the importance of family she instilled remain her enduring legacy.

Patricia is survived by her children: Marie Delaune (late Johnny) Michel of Lockport, Louisiana; Catherine (Ardyn Smith) Delaune of New Orleans; Alfred “Freddie” (Terri Dugas) Delaune Jr. of Lockport and New Orleans; Michelle Delaune of Dallas; and Michael (Stephanie) Delaune of Thibodaux, Louisiana. She also leaves behind seven grandchildren and six great‑grandchildren, along with countless family members and friends, all of whom brought her immense joy throughout her life.

She is preceded in death by her parents, James K. and Elise Kelly McNamara; her brother, James S. McNamara; her daughters, Joanne (William Walker) Delaune and Elizabeth Delaune; and her husband, Joseph Groetsch.

Visitation will be held at St. Ann Catholic Church, on Transcontinental Drive in Metairie, beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 20, followed by a funeral Mass at 1:00 p.m. The family welcomes all who knew and loved her to join in honoring her remarkable life. A private burial will take place at a later date.

Though her presence will be deeply missed, the love she shared will continue to guide and inspire all who were fortunate enough to know her. Special thanks to the staff at Broadway Elder Care and her caregivers, Carole Thibodeaux, Paulette Pertuit, and Lauren Minchew.