NASHUA, NH - Patricia Barbara Desmarais Hurd went home to her Lord on Tuesday October 27, 2026.

Daughter of the late Emery (Bob) and Della J. (Rioux) Desmarais. A retired Registered Nurse. Pat graduated from Nashua High School 1958, Saint Joseph School of Nursing 1961, received a BS degree from Rivier University, and a degree in Health Care Administration from Saint Joseph College, Standish Maine 1985. She attended Simmons Graduate School of Management and received a Certification in Rehabilitation Nursing in 1992.

Pat worked at St. Joseph Hospital for 24 years as a staff nurse, Supervisor and Associate Director of Nursing. In 1986 she was the Director of Nursing at Greenbriar Health Care for four years. Then she worked as a Medicare Nurse Specialist/Director of Utilization Services in the Northeast until her retirement in 2004.

Pat was a member of the American Nurses Association, The New England Conference of Catholic Healthcare Association, the American Society for Nursing Service Administrators, and the Association of Christian Therapists where she organized retreats and conferences in the Northeast for 15 years. She was appointed to the New Hampshire Governor's Health Manpower Committee in 1987. She was appointed to the Hillhaven Corporate Medicare Committee where she re-wrote the Medicare Manual for Skilled Nursing Facilities owned by the Company.

Pat immersed herself in a number of community activities where she served others selflessly. She was a past board member of the Greater Nashua Hospice at its inception, volunteered at the Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter, was an active member of the Associates of St. Marguerite d'Youville and served on its board of directors. She was a long time member of the Rivier Prayer Community serving on the core group, the pastoral team, healing prayer team and teaching team. She was a member of a Generational Healing team, associate member of the Lamb's Hand, and member of New Hampshire Unbound ministry. She was also a member of the Spirit of Elijah Lay Apostolate in Manchester and served on their Core team. She was a facilitator at Rivier University in the RISE program, where she taught art and religious classes and inspired others in many ways.

Pat was very active at her Church, St. Joseph the Worker, where she served on the Pastoral Team, the Art & Environment Committee, and secretary for the Liturgy Committee. She also served as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector and trained new Lectors. She was instrumental in organizing Eucharistic Adoration and First Saturday Devotion.

Pat had many other interests including traveling abroad, reading, attending religious conferences and after retiring from nursing she took her first art lesson at Rivier University in the RISE program. She became a watercolor artist, worked for 2 years as Director of Sales and Marketing for the Hollis Arts Society, and then elected President for 3 years. As well as selling her artwork, she also painted for others, often giving her works as gifts. She saw painting as something she simply wanted to do, and she did it with passion and pleasure. Her art was a gift that others will always cherish.

At the age of 73, Pat decided to learn to play the harp. She played at children's fairy festivals, art shows, and at cafe 1269 in Manchester that caters to the poor and homeless and at Catholic Medical Center in the lobby every December 24 along with her instructor and other harp students.

Pat is survived by her beloved daughter Hollis Marie Hurd of Bradford, Vermont. Grandson Quinn Greenleaf and great-grandson Mason Koda Greenleaf of Warren, NH and granddaughter Charlotte Lafond Berwick and husband Kody Berwick of Bradford, VT. She leaves nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends who will remember her and miss her for years to come.

She was pre-deceased by her sisters Lillian Noel, and Dorothy L. McMurray and her brother Donald E. Desmarais.

Family and friends are invited to Patricia’s visitation on FRIDAY, November 13th from 9 until 10 AM at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 777 West Hollis Street, Nashua. Her funeral mass will follow at 10 AM in the church. Interment will take place following mass at St. Louis Cemetery, Nashua. In lieu of flowers, Donations may be made in her memory to St. Joseph the Worker Church, 777 West Hollis St. Nashua, NH 03062.