Obituary for Patricia D. Gricus Patricia “Pat” D. (Parson) Gricus, age 70, of Bonita Springs, Florida, died on Monday, June 25, 2018, at her residence. She was born September 12, 1947, in Reno, Nevada, daughter of the late Robert A. and Dorothy G. (Auiler) Parson. Pat has been a resident of Bonita Springs and Darlington, Wisconsin, coming from her hometown of Schererville, Indiana.
She is survived by her loving husband, Donald E. Gricus, of Bonita Springs; her daughter, Dorothy D. (Parson) McDermott and her husband, Brian, of Zionsville, Indiana. She loved bragging about her adored six grandchildren, Conor (Heather) McDermott and Austin McDermott of Chicago, Illinois, Courtney McDermott, Kieran Koontz and Liam Koontz of Bloomington, Indiana, and Sloane McDermott of Zionsville, Indiana, and two great grandchildren, Max and Owen McDermott of Chicago, Illinois. Pat was preceded in death by her loving parents and two infant children, Amy and Michael.
Pat was so very proud of her family history, originating out of the lovely small town of Darlington, Wisconsin. Pat’s late grandfather, Arthur Parson, and his brothers, all of Darlington, are credited with starting Alfred T. Ringling in the circus business. They hired Ringling as a juggler to perform in the Parson Family Circus business.
When the show closed for the last time on July 4, 1883, Ringling took all the Parson’s big advertising bills back to Baraboo, Wisconsin, and the next spring Ringling started his own circus, using the advertising on his circus wagons. The Parson family then ran concessions for the Ringling family, selling pink lemonade and peanuts, which were a gold mine. Pat was a cosmetologist for a period of time, but was predominately a caregiver and housewife.
She was a woman who knew no stranger. She was quick to find something in common with anyone she ran into, and frequently shared tips on alternative medicine or genealogy research. Pat was a member of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Bonita Springs, and also volunteered at the church.
Funeral services for Patricia are being planned in Darlington, Wisconsin, for August 4, 2018, with burial in Union Grove Cemetery. Because Pat loved animals and adopted many from shelters over the years, the family suggests that in lieu of flowers donations in memory of Patricia Parson be made to the Humane Society of Naples, hsnaples.org/donate/. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home Family Owned and Operated Since 1978 To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Patricia D. Gricus please visit our Sympathy Store.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
