Mary Frances Patricia Hendrix, 90, died Oct. 17, 2010 at VNA Hospice House after a brief illness.
She suffered a stroke on Oct. 10, while attending Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church, where she was a member, and a second stroke while at the Indian River Medical Center. Hendrix was a resident of Vero Beach the past 16 years. She was a member and volunteer at the Vero Beach Museum of Art and volunteered at the VNA Hospice House.
She was a member of the Vero Beach Bridge Center. She was also a Club Master of the American Contract Bridge League.
Last May 25, Pat and her husband, Hal, celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary.
Born in Paola, Kansas, Hendrix graduated from the Ursuline Academy in Paola, operated by the Order of the Ursuline Sisters of the Catholic Church.
She attended the University of Kansas City, Missouri. She worked as a news editor at the Associated Press in Kansas City.
After her daughter, Kathy, was born, Hendrix retired from journalism and became active in several civic and religious groups, including the Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra and the Nelson Art Gallery.
Hendrix and her family moved to Coral Gables in 1957.
She was a docent at the Viscaya Museum and a member of several civic Latin American and Catholic Church organizations. She and her husband were members of the Riviera Country Club in Coral Gables, where they lived for 39 years.
Hendrix and her family also lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, New York City and Ocean Village in Fort Pierce before settling in Vero Beach.
Survivors include her husband, Hal; daughter, Kathy and her daughter’s husband, Earl Walker.
She is also survived by two cousins, Alison White and Nancy Bloom of the Atlanta area.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the VNA & Hospice Foundation, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, Florida 32960 or to the Indian River Medical Center Foundation, 1000 36th Street, Vero Beach, Florida 32960.
A Memorial Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Cross Catholic Church at 10 a.m. on Oct. 27, 2010.
