Patricia Decio

Patricia George Decio grew up in Oak Park, Illinois and it was there that she developed her impeccable taste, imagination, and life-long love of flowers from her father, a dapper businessman and champion golfer and her mother who owned a charming floral shop. It was while she was a student at Mount St. Mary's Academy in St. Charles, Illinois, that Pat met the love of her life, Art Decio. Pat was educated at Mundelein College in Chicago, where as a drama major, she had the lead role in Peter Pan. On January 6, 1951, Pat and Art were married and moved to Elkhart to begin their life together and raise their family. Over the next 50 years, Pat and Art opened their home to a range of philanthropic and civic events. Pat had a gift for entertaining and was known as a creative and gracious hostess; she always made it look easy and yet elegant. Pat served on community, church and educational boards and committees, including Aux Chandelles for the mentally handicapped, now a part of the Association for the Disabled of Elkhart County (ADEC). She was also an active leader for HOME, Elkhart Community Day Care, the Urban League and Elkhart General Hospital Auxiliary and a life member of the NAACP. Pat served on the Board of Regents of St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana, and chaired the Board's Committees on Student Life. She also served on the Advisory Council of the Snite Museum of Art at Notre Dame and on the University's Advisory Council for the Performing Arts. Pat's love of the arts and dedication to education remained constant throughout her life. Pat passed away on July 16, 2010, and her family fondly remembers her through this tribute to Father Hesburgh and the University of Notre Dame.