Patricia DeTreux

Patricia M. DeTreux, age 87, passed away peacefully on June 3, 2024.

She was the oldest of four children born to Thomas and Alice Higgins and raised in the Swampoodle section of Philadelphia. A graduate of John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School, Pat (Patsy Higgins) worked at Bell Telephone where she met Cass, the first of her lifelong “sorority” friends. Her “sorority” met once a month for more than 50 years, all talking at the same time but somehow understanding each other. She also met her future sister-in-law, Patricia (DeTreux) Milewski, who introduced her to the love of her life, Walt DeTreux, with whom she enjoyed 52 years of marriage before his death in 2011. Walt and Pat raised their three children – Jeannine Jackson (Stephen), Walt DeTreux (Maryann), and Col. Kenneth DeTreux, USMC retired (Kathleen) – in Incarnation of Our Lord parish in the Olney section of Philadelphia. Pat especially cherished her trip to Ireland with her brother, Jim, and sister, Mary Lou Mills, where they visited with family in County Mayo. Mary Lou was especially dear to Pat, who enjoyed their long talks on the phone, family holiday gatherings, and their getaways with sorority. Pat loved her Inky friends, especially Eleanor Anderson, who was one of her close friends and had to help her carry more than one phone book when they took a job delivering the White Pages. Pat took a special interest in her 13 grandchildren – Kara (Joseph), Alyssa, Stephen, Walt, Nora (Ian), Bernadette, Matt, Brigid, Logan, Katie, Patrick, Aidan, and Connor – and most recently, her first great-grandchild, Jackson Hurley. Pat and Walt were well known in St. Christopher Parish and Somerton for attending all the grandkids’ games and “gym shows.” They also delighted in visiting Kenny and Kathy and the kids at the Colonel’s many tours of duty. Pat’s kind and selfless nature endeared her to family and friends, and she will be remembered with great love and affection.

Relatives and friends, are invited to her viewing on Tuesday, June 18 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at John F. Givnish Funeral Home 10975 Academy Rd. Philadelphia, PA 19154, and 9:30 – 10:15 am Wednesday, June 19^th at St. Christopher Church 13301 Proctor Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19116 followed by her Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 am. Interment at Our Lady of Grace Cemetery 1215 Super Highway, Langhorne, PA 19047.

The family would like to extend the most sincere thanks to the nurses, aides, and staff at St. Joseph Manor, who brought sunshine into the final years of her life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Joseph Manor, 1616 Huntingdon Pike, Meadowbrook, PA 19046, https://www.redeemerhealth.org/make-donation-now. The family also asks that all those who loved Pat perform an act of kindness today in her memory.