Patricia Ann LaRusso Flowers, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 18, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona. She was 87.

Born on March 16, 1938, in Stamford, Connecticut, to William Vito LaRusso and Josephine Jeanette LaRosa, Patricia's life was marked by boundless compassion, fierce independence, and an unwavering commitment to family and community. As the eldest of five siblings, she was a natural leader and is lovingly remembered by those who knew her as spirited, opinionated, deeply caring, and impossible to forget.

Patricia trained as a pediatric nurse at the New York Foundling Hospital, where her lifelong passion for nurturing young lives took root. In Santa Monica, California, she met Gayland Duane Flowers, the love of her life, and they were married in Las Vegas on August 13, 1960. Together, they raised two sons, Duane Patrick Flowers (wife Yumi Chikamori Flowers) and William Dale Flowers (wife Rosann Cassella Flowers), and built a family legacy rooted in love, resilience, and intellectual curiosity.

Patricia and Gayland made their home in New Milford, Connecticut, where, after working with handicapped children at New Milford Rescue, she co-founded and worked for many years at Mountain View Nursery School, shaping young lives with great care and creativity. In 1985, they relocated to the warmer climate of Green Valley, Arizona, where Patricia served as a teacher, again with handicapped children, for the Pima County School District where she tirelessly volunteered for causes close to her heart. She was always ready to give much more than she received.

She was a devoted wife, a fiercely proud mother, and a guiding light to her grandchildren: Derek Gillis (wife Ashley), Alyssa Jorgensen (husband Soren), Nikki Flowers, and Ray Flowers. She was also a cherished great-grandmother to Evangeline "Evie" Liv Jorgensen, Layla Gillis, and Gavin Gillis.

In her later years, Patricia continued to defy expectations, surprise, and inspire. She worked as a dog walker, a security guard, and a community coordinator. Each role she took on with grace and enthusiasm. In 2024, at the age of 86, she published her first children's book, The Traveling Spirit, under the name Patti Flowers. She was actively working on her second book when the final chapter of her own story gently came to a close.

Patricia was a world traveler, a lover of animals, a passionate reader and writer, and a voracious conversationalist. She was known for her sharp wit and strong opinions. She loved softball, bowling, and was an enthusiastic fan of the Arizona Wildcats. She was Catholic, and devoted to helping others. She was always the first to volunteer, the first to offer advice, and the first to bring laughter or insight into a room.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Gayland Duane Flowers; her parents; and her siblings, Janet Marie LaRusso and Richard Frances (Ricky) LaRusso. She is survived by her siblings, William Francis LaRusso and Karen Jeanne LaRusso Neylan; her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; as well as countless extended family members, dear friends, and admirers.

A celebration of life will be held in her memory at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a local animal shelter or a children's literacy program in Patricia's honor. Her favorite charities were www.CureSMA.org and www.StJude.org . These are causes she championed with great passion.

Patricia lived as she believed: with unstoppable passion, courage, and humor. Her laughter lingers, her stories endure, and her spirit travels on.