Patricia Ann DeBusk

Patricia Ann Lauer DeBusk, 89, passed away on Saturday, August 9th 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. Patricia was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on August 28, 1935 to Helen Genevieve Sullivan Lauer and Anthony John Lauer. She moved to Phoenix with her family in 1937 where she attended St. Mary’s Elementary School. The family briefly moved to San Mateo, California in 1942 so her father could serve in the Merchant Marines and returned to Phoenix in 1945. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1954 and from Phoenix College with an A.A. in 1956. 

Patricia married Robert Milton DeBusk on January 24, 1959 and they had six children. Ballet was one of her great loves, and she danced with the Phoenix Light Opera Company from the age of 15 to age 20. Her other great love was singing. She started singing in the fourth grade and continued for the rest of her life. Patricia sang with the Phoenix College Choir, Most Holy Trinity Parish Choir, Phoenix Diocesan Chorale, and Upscale Singers, where she performed with her children, grandchildren, and her great grandson. She also performed in Carnegie Hall with the Phoenix College Choir along with two of her sons and her daughter-in-law. Patricia spent many years as a volunteer and filling leadership roles with groups such as The Phoenix Thunderbird Club of the Telephone Pioneers of America, and Our Lady of the Wayside Sodality. She enjoyed making friends through her work at Mountain Bell and Aunt Chilada's restaurant. She enjoyed traveling all over the world, especially when dressed as Mrs. Santa while her husband, Bob, dressed as Santa for the Telephone Pioneers Santa Goodwill Tours, which would bring joy to children of various countries around the globe.

She is survived by her daughters Mary Helen Burgess (Bob), Patricia DuBois (Michael), sons James (Tonya), William, and Michael, daughter-in-law Susan, twelve grandchildren, and four great grandchildren with one more on the way. She is preceded in death by her husband Robert, parents Helen and Anthony Lauer, sister Mary Hunn Lissak, brothers John and William Lauer, and son Daniel.

Visitation: Friday, August 22nd from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., with a rosary at 6:30 p.m. at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix, AZ. Funeral Mass: Saturday, August 23rd at 10:00 a.m. Most Holy Trinity Church, 8620 N. 7th St. Phoenix, AZ. Fr. Dennis Mary Dugan SOLT, celebrant. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Vincent De Paul.