Patricia Mcauley

Patricia Ann McAuley, 79, of Durand, formerly of Montrose, died Friday, June 2, 2023, at McLaren Medical Center in Flint, Michigan. In accordance with Patricia's wishes cremation has taken place and she is living a pain-free life in Heaven. Visitation and a Catholic Mass will be held at St. Mary’s St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 700 E. Columbia Dr, Durand, MI 48429 on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, with visitation beginning at 12 noon. The Memorial Mass will begin at 1:00 PM followed by a luncheon at the church to conclude the celebration of life. Final burial will be in her family plot at Refuge Church in Stephens City, Virginia. Arrangements are being handled by Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Road, Swartz Creek. Those desiring may direct memorial contributions to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (www.komen.org).

Patricia was born in a small, rural town in northern Virginia called Stephens City on April 21, 1944, to Joseph and Audrey (Conner) Horwarth. She grew up in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley with the Blue Ridge Mountains, the backdrop of their family farm. In 1962, her senior year, she was selected pianist of the year for James Wood High School in Winchester, Virginia. After high school graduation, this country girl moved away to Charlottesville to attend the University of Virginia. The following year she transferred to the Alexandria School of Nursing in Alexandria, Virginia. She worked at a hospital in Alexandria while she was going to school. At age 19, she took care of a young sailor who was injured in a car accident. After the young sailor was released from the hospital, he kept thinking about the student nurse who cared for him so he wrote to his doctor and asked him to get a letter to the young nurse with jet black hair. The letter was read-aloud by a nurse supervisor in a staff meeting. The supervisor was trying to figure out who this letter belonged to. Patricia raised her hand. The young sailor had written to her. She wrote him back and the rest is history. This encounter impacted the rest of her life and resulted in an amazing marriage of 56 years, three children, one son in-law, one daughter in-law, and two grandchildren.

John and Patricia were married in 1966. This was the same year that Patricia secured a nursing position at McLaren Hospital. She continued to work at McLaren until her granddaughter was born on her birthday, April 21, 2006. She gave 40 years of her life to McLaren, working in the emergency room most of those 40 years. She provided quality care to everyone she encountered and mentored many young nurses over the years.

Patricia is survived by her husband of 56 years, John. She was a devoted mother to her daughter, Audra (Warren), her son, Joseph (Cindie), and her son, Michael (Amanda). She adored her two grandchildren, Conner and Addison Misner. Her mother, Audrey Horwath, turned 100 this year and resides in the Nashville, Tennessee, area. Also surviving are her brother, Jim (Wilma) Horwath and her sister, Diana Horwath. She was preceded in death by her father, Joseph Horwath. Tributes can be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.