Obituary

Pat Elia, 73, of Avondale, AZ passed away February 4, 2016 in Surprise, AZ after a long and valiant struggle with cancer. She was born in Painesville, OH to her parents, Fred and Laura Hufford on June 7, 1942.

A caretaker all of her life, Pat made sure that the needs of others were always taken care of before her own needs. While raising her two children Tony and Lisa, she taught religious education at St John Vianney Catholic Church in Mentor, OH.   She also tenderly cared for her own mother for ten years.  In her fifties she returned to college in time to graduate Magna Cum Laude with her degree in social work.  Following her graduation, she went on to become a licensed social worker at Twin Pines nursing home and thoroughly enjoyed working with all the residents.

Pat was a member of the Red Hat Society, the Elks Lodge #2852, and enjoyed playing Bunco with her friends. However, Pat’s greatest enjoyment was being a very involved grandmother of three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  She participated in all of the important and everyday events in her grandchildren’s lives beginning at birth and continuing as they grew into young adults.

Pat is survived by her husband of 52 years, David; daughter Lisa Wilson (Darwin) of Phoenix, AZ; son Tony Elia (Mishelle) of Cuyahoga Falls, OH; sister Joyce Stark (Brian) of Painesville, OH; sister-in-law Marilyn Cameron of Painesville, OH; three grandchildren, Taylor Wilson, Devont’e Wilson and Laura Wilson; one great-granddaughter, Destiny Pipkin; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Fred Hufford and sister Margaret Hufford.

A visitation will be 5:00 pm with a Rosary at 6:30 pm, Thursday, February 11, 2016 at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear, AZ. A Funeral Mass will be at 12:00 pm, Friday, February 12, 2016 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 539 E La Pasada Blvd, Goodyear, AZ .  Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.