She earned a doctorate in education in the early 1980s from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
She began her career at the Roxborough hospital in 1965 as associate director of nursing and instructor at the school of nursing.
At the same time, she was a senior leader at Roxborough and responsible for the development of units for skilled nursing, inpatient rehabilitation, and geriatric psychiatry.
She was a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society and was active with the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania Council of Hospital-Based Programs; the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania Task Force, Allied Health Personnel; and the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Curriculum Planning for Allied Health.
She was an adjunct professor at Eastern University, Pennsylvania State University, and Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science, now Philadelphia University.
In 1983, she received the Legion of Honor Award from the Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation.
She is survived by her husband, Thomas A. Nelson Jr.; a son, Thomas A. III; a daughter, Kimberly A.; four brothers; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
A Funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, at St. John Vianney Roman Catholic Church, 350 Conshohocken State Rd., Gladwyne. Interment will be private.
Donations may be made to the Dr. Pat Nelson Scholarship Fund, Attn: Lisa Seserko, Roxborough Hospital School of Nursing, 5800 Ridge Ave., Philadelphia 19128.
Contact Bonnie L. Cook at 215-854-2611 or bcook@phillynews.com.
