Patricia Cronau

Patricia Cronau

November 7, 1934-May 14, 2022

ROANOKE-It is with great sadness that the family of Patricia Ann Cronau (Pat, Patty), beloved wife, mother, daughter and sister, announce her passing on May 14, 2022. Patricia was born November 7, 1934 in Davenport, IA to Isabella and James Duffy, the eldest of their four children. She was a graduate of Immaculate Conception Academy and the Mercy School of Nursing at St. Ambrose College. It was while attending St. Ambrose that she met the love of her life, Leslie H. Cronau, Jr., through a mutual friend. Their love story is one for the ages, having been married 65 years and inseparable for close to 70 years.

Pat was the foundation of their family of six children, and the greatest gift she gave them all was her Catholic faith. She was an active member of St. Elias Catholic Church in Roanoke, Virginia at the time of her passing. Before that, she volunteered countless hours in her home parishes for decades. She was a true example of living out her faith in her words, actions and prayer life. She had a special devotion to St. Monica and emulated her in her unceasing prayers for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was also a beautiful and tireless model of devoted wife and mother. She not only worked in the home, maintaining a household, but also worked outside the home starting as a nurse and well into her 80s when she was still preparing taxes in her local community. She was a friend to all who met her. Her love for her family, church community, and all people was palpable in her smile and kindness. In her spare time, she was an avid reader, adventurer, and found great joy in the simple things in life. From watching the boats on the Mississippi River as a child, taking road trips with her beloved husband, picking apples at the local orchard with the family, visiting her family in Iowa, to simply watching her grandchildren grow and share in their milestones, she was a delight to be with. The world is a better place because she was in it.

She is preceded in death by her parents and younger brother Joseph. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Les, sisters Isabella and Theresa, her six children Michele Johnson, Richard Cronau, Karen Pegram (and husband Scott), Stephen Cronau, Christine Harvey (and husband Alan), and Cynthia Cassidy (and fiance James). She also leaves behind her grandchildren Joseph Cronau, Christopher Pegram (and wife Ashley), Matthew Pegram (and wife Sarah), Tanya Courtney (and husband Michael), Andrew Cronau (and wife Leah), Meagan Carlson (and husband Tyler), Zachary Harvey (and wife Kelsey), Nathaniel Harvey, and Michael Cassidy, as well as her 7 great grandchildren.