Ann Nezzio Weaver
November 13, 1936 ~ August 24, 2010
Dr. Ann Nezzio Weaver, 73, of Lake Charles died at 8:11 PM on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 in her residence.
Ann graduated from Lake Charles High School in 1954 and earned her RN diploma from Loyola University/Hotel Dieu School of Nursing in New Orleans; her Bachelor of Science in nursing from McNeese State University; Master of Nursing Administration from Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans; and doctorate from Texas Women's University in Houston, TX.
Ann was the Lake Charles High School salutatorian and president of National Honor Society. She was the valedictorian of Hotel Dieu School of Nursing, as well as the student body president and recipient of the Charitas Christi Senior Honor Award. She was a member of the Louisiana State University Medical Center National Honor Society and listed in Who's Who Among Students in Who's Who Registry of Business Leaders: Worldwide Distinguished Member.
Ann spent 55 years in the active practice of nursing in clinical practice, education and hospital administration in Louisiana, Texas, and California. Her last job was the administrator of health services at PPG Industries from 2005-2009. She served as the chief nursing executive for 12 years at Christus St. Patrick Hospital and several hospitals in West Texas. She also taught nursing at McNeese State and Texas Tech Universities.
Ann's love for nursing and tennis are reflected in some of the honors she was fortunate to receive. She was a National Research Award grantee of the Robert Wood Johnson/Pew Charitable Trusts for "Strengthening Hospital Nursing: A program to improve patient care." Ann was named one of the top 3 leadership teams in healthcare among small hospitals in the nation in 2004. She and her father, Frank Nezzio, also organized the first chapter of the Mended Hears Association at St. Patrick Hospital. Ann was also a part of making national heart surgery history when the 1st U.S. coronary artery bypass surgery was performed on a beating heart when she was the chief nursing executive at Odessa Hospital in Odessa, TX. Ann is in the LCHS Wildcat Sports Hall of Fame for winning 2 Louisiana state tennis titles in doubles for 1953 and 54. She was also a charter member of the Lake Charles Racquet Club. Her love for children was shown in her years of service as a CASA volunteer.
Those left behind to remember her life are her two sons and their families, Richie Weaver and his wife Annette and two grandchildren Chelsea and Rick and Dr. Mark Weaver and grandchildren Franco, and her soul mate and the love of her life for 26 years, Pete Drozda. Other survivors include mother Nancy Nezzio of Lake Charles; brother and his wife Bill Nezzio and Carolyn of Thibodaux; sister and her husband Mary Nezzio Smith and Hunter of Lake Charles; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins; and Godchildren Joey Keith, Scott Smith, and Christina Streva.
She was preceded in death by her father, Frank Nezzio.
A memorial service will be held at 6:00 PM followed by a rosary on Friday, August 27, 2010 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Whitney Miller will officiate. Visitation will be on Friday from 4:00 PM until time of services. Burial will be held at Graceland Cemetery at a later date.
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Ann and I were friends for more than 60 years. We graduated from LCHS together in 1954. What a wonderful person whose legacy to the nursing profession and to our community will be remembered for years to come. I am so fond of Nancy, her mother, and my heart goes out to her and the other members of her family in this time of sorrow. My special prayers are for Pete Drozda who was truly the love of Ann's life. At our age, it is so sad to lose such a wonderful and special person.
Ann and I worked together at St. Pat's and in private consulting. She was a great friend and a gifted professional. I treasured both.
Dear Mrs Nezzio Billy. I didn't know Ann well, but remember her well from Lake Charles High as a girl to admire. I am so sorry for your loss. My sympathy to you the rest of the family. Woo St John
God bless you, Ann, and thank you for your devoted service to the patients of Christus St. Patrick's Hospital of Lake Charles.
I graduated with Ann in 1954….Ann, one of the tops in our class, and me, bringing up the rear. I remember her always having a kind word and a smile….which meant a lot to someone as bashful as I was.God has blessed her….as He has blessed you.
I'm very saddened to hear of Mrs. Ann's passing. She was truly a special person that influenced my life in a profound way. In 1992 she selected me to participate in a ST. Patrick sponspored Lpn course at Sowela Vo-Tech. I had limited nursing experience and was not even officially employed at St. Pats at the time. I did, however, have a 19 year wife and two babies to support. I'll get you in and you're gonna pass, because those babies are counting on you. She made it known that those babies also included my wife. She took a personal interest in us. Not because the hospital required her to, but because it was who she was as a person. Over the years, I have seen her at various facilities and have even had the pleasure caring for her mother, Mrs. Nancy. She never failed to ask about my family and then proudly say, Greg is one of mine. She would be proud to know that those babies are now in nursing school themselves and my wife and I have 19 years and 4 boys total. I am currently enrolled at McNeese working toward my Masters' degree as a Nurse Practioner. I am proud to say we, the Williams' family, are part of Dr. Ann Weaver's legacy. Her efforts continue to bear fruit even in passing. God Bless. GREGORY WILLIAMS, RN
Mary, I never had the privilege of knowing your sister, but my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
My prayers are for your family, as well as the soul of Ann. May she rest with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Please accept my sincerest sympathy upon Ann's death. My prayers continue for each of you.Beverly Thompson Jones,LCHS Class of 1954
Richie and family Mark and family I am so sorry about your Mom..my prayers and thoughts go out to all of you.I remember how much fun we had with your Mom on our baseball trips.God Bless you and family..
Richie and Mark, Nancy Nezzio and Bill Mary,So sorry I cannot be with you at this time of great loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.My deepest sympathy, Angie Niel Mericle
Sorry for your loss!I feel sure she is with Dad now they are loving it!God bless your family-Kimberley Dawn Olney Trunick
Thank you Ann for always opening your home to us when we were in high school. Thank you for always having smiling face. Randy
To Aunt Nancy, Bill, Mary, Richie, Mark and family ~ My heart is breaking for all of you. The loss of Ann's presence on this earth will be extremely missed but never forgotten. She made a mark on this world in a way no one else could. I can still see her smiling, beautiful face. She was a very positive, strong lady and loved her family deeply. Now she is no longer in pain and is a special Angel in Heaven. Hang on to this thought as your saving grace…silver lining… in this extremely sad time in your life. I say this with actual experience that the only way to get through this is to find something to hang on to in order to make sense of it all. I truly loved Ann. She made an impression on me way back when I was just a child and she will always hold a very special place in my heart. Love, Marla
To Mary and her mother and the entire Nezzio and Dalovisio families, Pleas accept my sincerest sympathy.Lillie Ray Levy
To The Dear Family of Ann Nezzio Weaver,I used to spend the night at Ann's home and always looked forward to playing checkers with Mr. Nezzio; in fact, when I walked in, he would say, Frances, Do you want to play checkers?I loved to play checkers, but Ann's father was a champ.It was my pleasure to be among such a wonderful and loving family and I want you to accept my deepest sympathy at this time.I have a photo of the Lake Charles High reunion last year and there is a photo of Ann that I know you would love. I will be happy to e-mail it to you if you will send to me your e-mail address.My e-mail address is: frans2@cox.netSincerely,Frances Reid Smithfrans2@cox.netI live in Baton Rouge and my phone number is 924-4949.Bitsy VanNorman, another classmate of LCHS 1954 lives nearby and we keep in touch and I will gladly share with her our sincere sympathy for your family.Sincerely,Frances Reid SmithLCHS 1954