Patricia (Patty) Ann Zimmer (née McCarthy), aged 68, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 11th, 2023, surrounded by loved ones.

She was born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 29, 1954, to Mary and Denis McCarthy, the second daughter of seven children. Growing up, she moved around frequently as her dad was in the U.S. Air Force, relocating every few years. She moved to York, England at age one; to Sacramento, CA in her toddler years; to Hahn Air Force Base in Germany in her elementary and junior high school years; then back stateside to San Bernardino, CA, where she went to high school and nursing school.

Her family made frequent trips to Ireland over the years, especially while living in England and Germany, and it was always her "happy place." She would later own a home in Bantry Bay in southwestern County Cork where her father was born and where many of her beloved cousins, aunts, and uncles spent their summers. She loved walking around town, popping into the shops, sitting down to a cup of tea, chatting with anyone and everyone she came across, and soaking in the beautiful bay views.

Led by a calling to help others, she became a registered nurse in 1976, and went on to get her bachelor of science degree from Cal State Fullerton in 1981. She began her nursing career at St. Bernardine Medical Center, followed by positions at UCLA hospital, Cedars-Sinai, St. Joseph Home Health, Union Bank, and Baxter Healthcare.

She then worked for almost 30 years at Providence Mission Hospital, where she would walk the halls and everyone knew her name. She was the Employee Health nurse for much of that time, often the first person that employees met on their orientation day, and she would continue giving them regular flu shots and smiles over the years. She loved learning about other peoples' lives and hearing their stories, and was always expanding her mind at nursing conferences.

A devout Catholic, she regularly attended mass at St. Timothy in Laguna Niguel and St. Edward in Dana Point. She had a servant's heart and was always thinking of others. She actively volunteered with the church, dropping off donations to the food pantry, checking blood pressures on healthcare clinic days, and listening to others during grief sessions. In 2014, she traveled to Jamaica on a mission trip, treating the poor and sick.

She loved spending time with her granddaughter Frances (Franny), frequenting favorite eateries with her son Joey and daughter Erin, spending holidays and family events with all her siblings, nieces, and nephews, walking around Dana Point Harbor, and planning her next trip to Ireland.

Her final days were spent praying the rosary, listening to her favorite songs, and being surrounded by family and friends telling favorite Patty stories. We miss her warm heart and adventurous spirit.

She is survived by her two children Erin and Joey; her granddaughter Frances; her five siblings Teresa, Michael, Monica, Tom, and Denis Jr (Denny); her sisters-in-law Kim, Kathy, and Nicole and brothers-in-law Roy and Bill; her son-in-law Andrew; her nieces Kelly, Megan, Claire, Ella, Keira, Mary, Kathleen, Denise, and Bernie; her nephews Michael, Conor, Brendan, William, Gavin, Ryan, Riley, and Rowan; her aunts Sally and Ruth; her uncles Conor and Frank; and her former husband Earl. She was predeceased by her mother Mary McCarthy (December 2022), her father Denis McCarthy (September 2010), and her sister Kathy O'Regan (April 2023). She meant so much to so many people and will forever live on in our hearts.

The funeral mass will take place at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Laguna Niguel on Friday, June 23rd, with a rosary beginning at 11 a.m. and mass at 12 p.m. There will be a livestream available for those who cannot attend the funeral. She will be buried in Bantry Bay, Ireland, later this summer.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Doctors Without Borders: doctorswithoutborders.org

"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis." At God's right hand may her precious soul rest.