Patricia Feldhaus

Patricia Ann Feldhaus, 87, died in Chico, CA at California Park Rehab surrounded by family on April 16, 2017, Easter Sunday. She was born on April 18, 1929 in Oak Park, IL, the only child of Fay and Reginald Hunter, and grew up in Glen Ellyn, IL. After graduating from Glenbard High School in 1947, she attended Miami University, Oxford, OH and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree with Speech and French majors in August 1950. She was a life-long Theatre addict, acting in plays beginning in the sixth grade through college; Dramatic Readings in Peoria, IL; Community Theatre in Mobile, AL; and Readers' Theatre productions and several plays in conjunction with CSU Chico in the 1970's after moving to Chico in 1971; to attending plays on a regular basis at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland, OR and the American Conservatory Theatre, San Francisco. Pat was the true optimist and believed that life was full of joyful surprises (one envelope stamp proclaimed, "Life is too short! Live! Love! Laugh!") and that one thing led to another. In 1981 she went on a 6 week theatre tour of Europe culminating in seeing "Seven Against Thebes" by Aeschylus at the ancient theatre in Epidaurus, Greece. She started writing theatre reviews for the Enterprise-Record in 1981 which expanded to a self-syndicated column for a dozen Northern California dailies. This led to her membership in the American Theatre Critics Association and International Theatre Critics Association and annual conferences in the United States, England and Ireland in addition to mini conferences in New York City. She also started "Creative Endeavors", a service organization with Laurel Branam-Gold (deceased) which became a cultural link for hundreds of participants between Chico and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as well as San Francisco. She and her husband traveled to six continents with a focus on theatre and ornithology. A few highlights were camping via a Chevy Van from Alabama to Alaska in 1969 with her husband and nine children; taking a trip to the Soviet Union in 1986 with Grandmothers for Peace with a business card that read "Grandmother for Peace, Mother of Nine - and still smiling"; canoeing in a huge dugout canoe down the Rio Napa in Ecuador; sailing on the Yangtze River; going on Elderhostels to Kenya, Tanzania and Brazil; and seeing plays at the Sydney Opera House in her role as theatre critic. Pat reported on her travels in the Chico E-R and on her Blog under norcalblogs.com/travels: Travels with Pat. She also shared her slides and DVD's at nursing homes and with her many friends. Pat believed that "Readers are leaders" and in life-long learning which she continued by her active participation in Prime Timers/OLLI and teaching several courses from Mexican culture to Play Reading. She took part in many presentations with the organization. She was an honorary lifetime member of the American Association of University Women. Pat had a rich spiritual life and was active at St. John's Catholic Church as one of the first women lectors and Eucharistic ministers. She believed that Peace Is Possible and was a former local leader of Pax Christi-Chico, part of the international Catholic Movement for Peace, and Grandmothers for Peace-Chico. Pat was also a retired substitute teacher for Chico Unified and Butte County School Districts and a retired substitute rural postal carrier. She had a musical background of playing the accordion from childhood and played the organ for 3 of her sons' weddings. Many friends and acquaintances will remember that Pat enjoyed singing. When she was a substitute teacher for the physically and mentally challenged, she played her ukulele and led singing; she always had a song for the bus trips on her travels and to theatrical events, and she frequently made up songs for special occasions such as birthdays, art events and anniversaries of friends. She also sang annually at "Don't Tell Mama's" Piano Bar in New York City and always sang a variety of songs on her answering machine. Pat enjoyed wearing colorful clothes, patterned knee high stockings and often accentuated her attire with a feather boa from her collection. Pat met Paul Feldhaus while they were both students at Miami University and married him on December 31, 1949. She became his number one publicity agent and arranged for many Art Exhibitions locally, nationally and internationally. They lived in Peoria, IL, Mobile, AL, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in Chico in December 1999 and their 55th in December 2004. Paul preceded Pat to "eternal life". Our mother is survived by her 3 favorite daughters: Kathy Kirkley, Dillon, MT; Paula Hulen, Langlois, OR and Linda Feldhaus, Sherwood, OR; her 6 favorite sons: David, Magalia, CA; Bill (Yvonne), Round Mountain; Stephen, Chesapeake, VA; and Fred, Central Point, OR (Mark, Port Orford, OR and Charles, Chico, predeceased her); 15 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. A Memorial Mass is planned for Friday, May 5th, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Johns. Colorful attire is welcome and/or a flower in your hair is appreciated. A Celebration of Life will follow after Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Chico Branch, American Association of University Women, Chico Friends of the Library or a favorite charity. Brusie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and online condolences can be sent to the family at www.brusiefh.com