Obituaries

Althea Weaver Garrigues

Althea Weaver Garrigues, 85, of Radnor, died on May 27 at her home.

Newty, as she was always known, was born in 1920 in Philadelphia. She was the daughter of John Roy Weaver and Althea Knickerbocker Rose and granddaughter of Philadelphia Mayor John Weaver (1903-1907) and Emily Jenning. She grew up in Mt. Airy and Overbrook.

Mrs. Garrigues was the widow of Samuel M. Garrigues, who died in 1993 and whose family were early settlers of Philadelphia.

She attended Springside School and remained an active alumnus. Before marrying, she worked in public relations for Wanamaker’s. During her childhood and married life she spent summers in Seaside Park, where she was a member of the Seaside Park Yacht Club. At home in Radnor, she was a member of St. David’s Golf Club and a long-time volunteer at Bryn Mawr Hospital. Her personal interests included gardening (with a special love for orchids), building miniature rooms, playing bridge and reading.

Mrs. Garrigues is survived by 20 nieces and nephews; more than 30 grand and great-grand nephews and nieces; plus many cousins and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on June 11 at Overbrook Presbyterian Church, City Line & Lancaster Aves. Memorial donations may be made to the Springside School, Cherokee St., Philadelphia, PA 19118 or Bryn Mawr Hospital, c/o Development Office, 130 S. Bryn Mawr, PA 19010.

Louise Marie Regan

Louise Marie Regan (nee Sigmund), 66, died suddenly of a cerebral aneurysm on June 6.

Originally of Wyncote, she resided in Oreland for the past 20 years. Louise received her nursing degree in 1976 and spent most of her career at Chestnut Hill Hospital, specializing in critical care nursing.

Louise’s devotion to nursing extended beyond the local community. She traveled to India, working with Mother Theresa and to Swaziland with a group of medical professionals whose mission was to provide supplies and education to hospitals in needy countries.

Louse had many interests. A worldwide traveler, with particular interest in exploring unique cultures and natural settings, Louise loved the American West. She was a collector and dealer in antiques with a specialty in paintings, and an avid gardener.

While a great asset to the local and world community, Louise’s family was her greatest treasure. A devoted mother and grandmother, she is survived by her three children and their spouses: Michael and Tamra Regan, Kathleen and Lawrence McEwen, and Jeff and Karen Regan, as well as her eight grandchildren, her great friend and companion, Dr. John Roberts, and her siblings Paul, John and Peter Sigmund, Mary Ann Wenniger and Katy Pierce.

Louise will be remembered for her caring spirit, sense of adventure, and unyielding desire to help those in need. Louise was able to make a final act of kindness by donating her organs.

A viewing will be held at Our Mother of Consolation Church, Chestnut Hill, on Saturday, June 11, at 9 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Educate the Children, PO Box 414, Ithaca, NY 14851.

Patricia Ann Henning

Patricia Ann Henning, 71, died of cancer on June 5, at Stapelely in Germantown.

Born in Northampton County, Pa., Ms. Henning earned a B.S. from West Chester State College and an M.S. from Simmons College. She moved to Philadelphia in 1962, where she worked as a reference librarian at the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University, and as an information specialist at Research for Better Schools. At the time of her retirement, she had been working as a real estate agent for Elfant-Wissahickon for many years.

A Mt. Airy resident since 1967, Ms. Henning served for 36 years as a board member of West Mt. Airy Neighbors. She was one of the founders of the Mt. Airy Learning Tree and of The Mt. Airy Express. She also served as managing editor of that newspaper during its early years.

As chairperson of the Mt. Airy Historical Awareness Committee, Ms. Henning took leadership positions in planning and implementing historic talks and tours, producing community history wall calendars, and coordinating the successful nomination of the Mt. Airy section of Germantown Avenue to the National Register of Historic Places.

Ms. Henning is survived by her mother, Mary Henning, and by her extended family — Gayl Koster, Kristen and Ivano di Gennaro and Jessica, David, Isabella and Ian Baff.

Family and friends are invited to a memorial service at Summit Presbyterian Church, Greene and Westview streets, Mt. Airy, on Sunday, June 11 at noon. Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Airy Learning Tree, 6601 Greene St., Philadelphia, PA 19119; Summit Presbyterian Church, 6757 Greene St., Philadelphia, PA 19119; or the Germantown Historical Society, 5501 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144.

Margaret E. Fatula

Margaret E. Fatula, 65, who since infancy has been close to the heart of First United Methodist Church of Germantown (FUMCOG), died on May 28, when she was struck by a falling limb in her backyard during a sudden storm. The sad news was especially shocking since she had been battling cancer with indomitable courage for several years prior to the accident.

Over five decades ago, Ms. Fatula joined her mother in singing in FUMCOG’s sanctuary choir every Sunday.

For many summers Ms. Fatula traveled to Ireland to visit family; her humor, wit and gift of story telling came from her Irish heritage.

Born in 1940 in Watertown, N.Y., she was the daughter of Andre and Margaret (Peg) Bustard Fatula and sister of John. Her father died shortly after her birth, and her mother, a nurse, moved with the children to Philadelphia. Ms. Fatula graduated from Girls High School in 1958, attended Dickinson College, graduating in 1962, earned a master’s of occupational therapy from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s of gerontology from St. Joseph’s University. She began her vocation as an occupational therapist in Ireland, working with thalidomide-affected children, returned to Philadelphia to work at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Pennhurst State Hospital, Haverford State Hospital and finally auditing group homes for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Fatula is survived by her brother, John, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; niece Emily Waldman of Washington, D.C.; nephews David Fatula of San Diego, Calif. and Andrew Loeb of Portland, Ore. She is also survived by cousins John Bustard, Corinne Pepperell, Jean Bustard, Jane Walling and David Bustard.

A memorial service was held on June 6 at the First United Methodist Church of Germantown. Memorial donations may be made to the above-named church at 6023 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144.