Irene Delores Pfalzer

Irene Delores "Dee" (Raynor) Pfalzer, 93, of Pensacola, passed away Sunday, February 9th, 2025, where she was residing at the Summer Vista Assisted Living Community.
Dee was born in Ann Arbor, MI, to Floyd and Addie Raynor. She was preceded in death by a sister Lois Holladay, a brother-in-law George Holladay, her husband of 45 years Edwin Eugene "Gene" Pfalzer, and a stepson Edwin Stewart Pfalzer.
She is survived by a stepdaughter Anne Pfalzer Davidson (Richard Fontaine) of Pensacola; three grandchildren, Ryan Davidson (Courtney) of California, April Higdon (Jeremy) of Pensacola, and Caroline Davidson of Pensacola; three great-grandchildren, Irving Higdon and Leona Higdon of Pensacola, and Remy Geiser of Colorado; a niece Sharon Holladay of Kansas; a great niece Heather Bisson (Mark) of Kansas; a great-great niece Noelle Bisson of Kansas.
Dee graduated from Pensacola High School in 1950 and began nursing training in the fall. She graduated from the Mather School of Nursing at Southern Baptist Hospital in New Orleans, LA, in September of 1953. Following nursing training Dee moved back to Pensacola and began working in the surgical recovery room and then the operating room at Baptist Hospital. She went to work for an obstetrics practice as an office nurse for about 5 years and then returned to Baptist Hospital as a labor and delivery nurse. While supervising nursing students at Baptist Hospital, Dee was noticed for her potential and was given support to become a nursing instructor in the LPN program at Pensacola Junior College. Dee earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education in 1980, and a Master of Science in Nursing Education in 1990. Dee worked 31 years in the Nursing Department at Pensacola Junior College and retired as Associate Professor in 1993.
Dee was a professional who carried herself well and not only was she highly educated in the field of nursing, but she was a teacher and a nurse at heart. She was a very nurturing person and always wanted to help anyone who was suffering emotionally or physically. During her retirement, Dee heard from many former students what a wonderful instructor she was to them.
In 1974, during the years of her nursing career, Dee married her loving and devoted husband Gene (predeceased), a widower with two young teenage children. This was her first and only marriage and it was a match made in heaven. Dee was an absolute blessing to all three of them. She not only embraced her role as a wife, but also as a mother figure to Gene's children, providing love and guidance as they navigated their teenage years and beyond. Dee's selfless love bound their family together, creating a home filled with warmth, grace, and stability that carried into the adult lives of her grandchildren who loved her so much.
Dee was a woman of faith and a parishioner of St. Paul Catholic Church for the past 50 years. Her very sweet personality will be greatly missed by family and friends.
The family would like to thank all the wonderful nurses, medical technicians, and staff who cared for Dee at the retirement home and all of the wonderful hospice workers who cared for her during her time of need.
Visitation will be Thursday, February 13th, 2025, at Pensacola Memorial Gardens Funeral Home beginning at 1:00 p.m. with the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. with Fr. Craig Smith officiating.