Patricia A. Dunn

Patricia Anne Dunn (McElroy) was born to parents Marguerite and Edward McElroy, The eldest child with four younger brothers: Lou, Jim, Tim, and Dan. She grew up in Wisconsin, Tennessee and Georgia. She enjoyed going on picnics with her mom and playing in the woods and fields with her brothers. She graduated in 1963 from St. Clara Academy boarding school in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. Her family moved to Omaha in the late 60’s and she later attended and graduated from UNO with a degree in fine Art. She was a gifted artist of many different types of mediums, painting being her favorite. She met John Dale Dunn through her brother Lou who were both students at Creighton University. They married while John was attending medical school at Creighton. After living in Harlem where John completed his residency, they moved back and lived in Elgin, NE for a short time where their daughter Ann Jenevra (Jennie) was born. Soon after, they moved back to Omaha where Patricia taught art at a high school and John went back to Creighton University’s school of Law while working as a doctor in Omaha.

In 1976 Patricia became a teacher of Transcendental Meditation. After her divorce from John in 1977, she and Jennie moved to Fairfield, Iowa where Patricia continued a lifelong passion of practicing and teaching TM. Her friends in the TM movement have been a group of people whom she has cherished for the past 47 years. Teaching countless numbers of people, Patricia enjoyed traveling all around the country. While she taught meditation through grants in various schools, at the Boys and Girls club and to veterans, she also nannied for families in Fairfield and North Carolina. Most recently her journey led her to the Ho Chunk (Winnebago) Indian reservation. Over the past several years she developed the most beautiful friendships with many elders and their families.

Her son-in-law for the past 25 years Travis loved Patricia as his own mother. They would garden together and enjoy the outdoors. Grandkids Carson, Quinn and Abby will miss their Mammo. She has been an integral part of their lives, living with the family off and on throughout their lives. She was a kind, loving, gentle soul who was passionate and unwavering in her beliefs. She wrote many stories in a memory book I recently found. One of my favorites is, “ In my life, I want to see people of all colors live together in harmony and peace. To see all people respect one another’s spiritual path. To see the end of war and hunger and suffering.” She will be deeply missed by many. She was and is an amazing soul.

Preceded in death by her parents, Marguerite and Edward McElroy and her brothers, Lou McElroy and Tim McElroy. Survived by her daughter, Jen (Travis) Sawyer; grandchildren, Carson, Quinn and Abigail; brothers, Jim McElroy and Dan (Chin) McElroy; sister-in-law Karen McElroy; her extended family, many good friends and those she touched through TM.

MEMORIAL Service Saturday, 2:00 pm at the 72nd Street Chapel with visitation one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, Patricia’s family would like friends and family to use that money to “pay it forward” in honor of Patricia’s generous and adventurous spirit.