Patricia Ann Lapierre, 88, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, surrounded by her loving family and the dedicated and compassionate staff in the nurturing environment at the Oasis at Dodge Park in Worcester, MA.

Born in Worcester, Patricia, affectionately known as Pat and later in life as “Nana,” was the only child of Oscar and Alphonsine (Lavallee) LaFleur. She graduated from Holy Name High School in Worcester, where she met the love of her life and future husband, Roland George Lapierre, who predeceased her in 2020.

After high school, Pat and Roland were united in marriage and settled in Worcester, MA, where they began their family. Eventually, they made their home in Millbury, MA, and embarked on building their first home. Pat would often recount the story of how she collaborated with Roland to lay the foundation of their house, diligently transporting cinder blocks from their station wagon and sliding them down a plank to form the foundation.

While raising her family, Pat juggled various jobs, including overseeing all the bookkeeping responsibilities for Valley Plastering and Valley Homes, companies founded by her husband. However, her heart yearned for a career in the medical field. In her mid-30s, she decided to pursue her dream and enrolled at David Hale Fanning Trade High School in 1971 to become a Surgical Technician. She subsequently became a member of the Association of Operating Room Technicians and worked as a surgical technician at St. Vincent’s Hospital.

Driven by her passion for healthcare, Pat earned her Associates Degree in Nursing in 1979 from Quinsigamond Community College, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Assumption College in 1987. Her exceptional dedication to her profession led to her induction into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Pat remained committed to her career, continuously updating her knowledge through participation in the Association of Operating Room Nurses and achieving her Certification for Perioperative Nursing Practice (CNOR). Even in retirement, Pat stayed connected to the medical field, offering her time as a volunteer at UMass Memorial for many years.

A natural planner, Pat orchestrated numerous family gatherings, holiday festivities, vacations, and outings. She never missed an opportunity to send birthday or anniversary cards, and her reliability was unquestionable when it came to fulfilling commitments. In her home kitchen, she was a culinary enthusiast, consistently experimenting with new recipes for her cookbook, which included her renowned Christmas cookies cherished by her children and grandchildren. During moments of “rest,” she would often be found crocheting an afghan with her beloved cat “Good Kitty” by her side, while her husband worked on jigsaw puzzles.

Both Pat and her late husband were devout members of North American Martyrs Church in Auburn.

Pat leaves behind her three children: Roland G. Lapierre, Jr. and his wife Kathryn (Kate) of Greenfield, MA; Mary Tarquinio and her husband Thom of Sutton, MA; and David Lapierre and his wife Laura of Chelmsford, MA. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Adam and his wife Kate of Brooklyn, NY; Noah and his wife Hannah of Brattleboro, VT; Zachary and his wife Hailey of Brooklyn, NY; Isaiah of Keene, NH; Danielle and her husband John of Pittsfield, MA; and Brenda of Manchester, NH. She is also survived by a great-grandchild, Griffin.

There will be no calling hours. Reflecting Nana’s unwavering dedication to the medical profession, she has chosen to participate in the UMass Chan Medical School Anatomical Gift Program. The family intends to hold a celebration of life for Patricia and Roland (Nana & Pep) at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to nursing scholarships at Quinsigamond Community College (www.qcc.edu/giving). Please select “Other” as the designation and indicate “for nursing scholarships” in the comments box. Donations can also be sent to QCC Foundation, 670 West Boylston Street, Worcester, MA 01606.