Patricia Ann Carey

Patricia Ann (Larson) Carey, Wausau, died peacefully at home in the early morning of January 10, 2015. She was under compassionate home hospice and family care for the last 5 months. She succumbed to pulmonary fibrosis, a rare lung disease from which she suffered for her last three years of life. A special thanks to Tom who dedicated himself to her care in the last month of her illness allowing her to remain at home. She was born May 1, 1935 in Beloit, daughter of the late George and Martha (Norby) Larson. On August 15, 1959 she married Gene M. Carey at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Beloit. Together they raised a family of four, three sons, and a daughter. Survivors include her husband, Gene, Wausau; sons Dennis Carey RN (Ferlyn Rettinger), Wausau, James Carey San Diego, Thomas Carey Necedah, and daughter Kristin Carey (William Tibble) La Pointe, a sister, Helen Scovel, and her husband Gary and son Jason, Minocqua. Pat was a 1953 graduate of Beloit Memorial High School where she was an Honor Roll student, member of Quill and Scroll, co-editor of the Beloiter High School Year Book, and secretary of the student council. As an aside, she was a member of the "Chicken Coop Chicks", a younger version of the Red Hats. She attended Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1956. She received her BSN from Milton College, MSN from Cardinal Stritch College, and her post master's gerontology certificate from the University of WI., Oshkosh. She was one of the first oncology certified RN's in the area. She also became a legal nurse consultant in 1998. She was a member of the A.N.A., W.N.A., Oncology Nursing Society, and Mid State District Nurses as both a board member and as president. Pat attended and presented numerous workshops on topics pertaining to nursing care. In 1998 she joined North Central Technical College and taught nursing assistant classes until her retirement in 2011 capping a fifty four year commitment to nursing. While in retirement, she volunteered at Marywood Convalescent Center, of Wausau. She worked as an RN in many states including Illinois, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. During her working career, she held positions in the E.R., Surgery, I.C.U. She also held the position of Director of Nursing, at Wausau Medical Center. She was director of the surgical and medical floors at Wausau Hospital. Her last position, oncology head nurse at Aspirus Hospital. In 1996 she was named Wisconsin Oncology Nurse Clinical Educator by the American Cancer Society of Wisconsin. Pat and her husband spent their winters in Naples and Ocala, Florida. Pat was an Elderhostel participant with her close friend Carol Wojan. She was a passionate seamstress & knitter her entire life. During her last years, she put her talent to work, to create keepsakes for everyone she loved, for any occasion. She was a true believer in "it's better to give than receive". Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau. There will be a Nightingale Tribute for Pat at 12:00 pm, during the visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio Street, Suite 304, Chicago, Illinois 60611-320, Online:http://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/ways-to-give/donate-now; or Apsirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services, 333 Pine Ridge Blvd, Wausau, WI 54401. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com