Patricia Hockersmith

Jesus took Pat’s hand and led her to her eternal home in Heaven on Tuesday, September 16, 2008. As she entered those pearly gates, she was reunited with her son Steve, her nephew Tim Rounds and her parents, Tom and Edna Rounds, as well as other family and friends that have gone before her.
Pat fought a long hard battle with a liver disease that ultimately conquered her body. That unfortunately was not her only obstacle. She also had diabetes and had lost her eyesight several years ago.
Pat’s relationship with Jesus Christ enabled her to face these challenges with courage, dignity and a positive outlook on life. She was and is a true witness for Christ and an inspiration to all those who were fortunate enough to have known her.
Pat was born Patricia Carole Rounds to Tom and Edna Rounds on September 22, 1938 in Des Moines, Iowa. She was raised in Des Moines and graduated from East High School in 1956. She married Larry Hockersmith, the love of her life, on October 7, 1956. Together they had a son, Steve on November 11, 1958 and a daughter Debbie (Moreno) on June 8, 1960. Pat and her kids were fortunate that she was able to stay at home with them while they were young. When they were in junior high, she made a successful career for herself selling real estate for Stanbrough Reality, now First Reality, for several years. After that she worked for Snelling & Snelling Employment Agency. During that time, September 9, 1981, she was blessed with her first grandchild, Joshua Lee Peterson. Then on December 26, 1983 she was blessed with her granddaughter, Stephanie (Stevie) Nichole Hockersmith. In 1984 she started her employment with Commtron Corporation (now Ingram Entertainment). Pat retired from there in 1993. During her employment there, she formed several lasting friendships. At one point, she, her daughter, and her son-in-law Jesse, worked there together.
On July 8, 1994, she was blessed with another grandson, Joseph Thomas Moreno. On October 21, 2006, Pat was blessed again when her grandson Josh Married Stephanie Nicole Byars, giving her another granddaughter.
On January 15, 2008, Pat was able to experience first hand one of God’s greatest miracles, her Great Granddaughter-Brooklynn Nicole Peterson’s arrival into this world. She heard her first cry (or squeak) and saw her with her heart, which is the clearest vision we possess. We now know that she can also see Brooklynn with her eyes and just confirms to her how beautiful she knew she is.
During her life Pat had been a Rainbow Girl, a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the East High Alumni Assoc. and in most recent years an active member of Lutheran Church of Hope. Because of her, her whole family belongs and attends there regularly.
Pat is survived by and will be greatly missed by her husband Larry (Paul Newman) for whom she was married for 52 years and who took exceptional care of her and loved her immensely; her daughter Debbie who was blessed to have her not only as a mother but also her best friend; her son-in-law Jesse whom she loved and treated like her own son; her grandsons, Josh and Joey; granddaughter Stevie; granddaughter-in-law Stephanie whom she loved like her own granddaughter; great granddaughter Brooklynn, the light of her life; brother, Pete Rounds; sister-in-law, Penny; nephews, Scott, John, and Eddy Rounds; nieces, Carol and Taylor Rounds; great nieces, Nikki, Krissy, Haley, Emma and Tessa Rounds; and her dog, Sparky.
Services will be held at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Pkwy, on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 11:00 AM with a viewing at 10:30 AM. A visitation will be held at the church on Thursday, September 18, 2008 from 5-7 p.m. The family requests that any donations be made to Hospice of Central Iowa (Bright Kavanagh House) or Lutheran Church of Hope.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Kristy and the Hospice team who took wonderful care of Pat.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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