LADY LAKE, FL ---- Patricia “Pat” Lacroix Bryant, 76, of Lady Lake, FL, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at UF Health Leesburg Hospital in Florida after a brief illness.
Pat was born on June 4, 1948, in Laconia, NH, the daughter of the late Albert D. Lacroix and Agnes Estelle (Blackey) Lacroix. She spent her younger years through high school in Laconia/Gilford. She graduated from Westbrook and Plymouth State Colleges. She lived most of her adult years with her husband and family in Meredith. Pat and Jim moved for a few years to northern Maine where they enjoyed new friendships and their horses. Many years ago, after returning to the Lakes Region, they finally decided to retire to the Villages in FL.
Pat led a full life raising her children and creating a successful career for herself in the real estate industry. She was a hard worker who spent many of her younger years working multiple jobs at a time including working for her parents who owned the Shore Diner, and later waitressing for her mother and stepfather at the Captain’s Table. She worked for many years caring for the horses at Castle in the Clouds. Her passion for horses eventually led to her ownership of many horses that she and her family cared for at their homes over the years. She would often be found working right beside Jim, clearing land, building barns, loading hay in the fields, building fences, and even protecting Jim from bears as he mended fences in the middle of the night. Pat loved animals of all kinds, small and large, especially the family cats.
In addition to horses, Pat had many other hobbies over the years. She enjoyed many years of participation in Toastmasters where she won many speaking awards. One of her greatest joys was holding the position of Area Governor for Toastmasters in New England. She participated in bowling leagues, enjoyed hiking, racketball, and tennis. In her later years her favorite activity was singing karaoke (Jim would join in too).
Pat is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, James R. Bryant; son Jason Bryant and partner Suzy Fortier; daughter Leslie Bryant and her wife Jennifer; sister Donna Reidy and her husband Rich; grandchildren Abigail Bryant, Benjamin Bryant and Jonathan Bryant; and many nieces and nephews.
Calling Hours will be held on Friday, August 23, 2024, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm in the Carriage House at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH. For those interested, there will be a procession leaving Bryant Paving, 177 Waukewan St. in Meredith, at 4:30 PM, to attend the calling hours.
A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 11:00 am at St. Lambert Cemetery, Province Street, Laconia, NH.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia NH 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to wilkinsonbeane.com.