WINNIFRED O’CONNOR PERSSE

Savannah- Winnifred O’Connor Persse, 84, died Sunday, August 20, 2006 at Memorial Health University Medical Center.
A lifelong resident of Savannah, she was the eldest child of J. Harry and Winnifred Persse. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Margaret and her brother, Harry.
She was educated at Sacred Heart School and graduated from Saint Vincent’s Academy in 1940. She received her nursing education from Providence Hospital and received a baccalaureate degree in nursing education from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She received a certification in medical technology from Jacksonville Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. During her working career, she worked in many different capacities. She taught nursing at the Memorial Hospital School of nursing in Savannah, served as the nursing supervisor at the first psychiatric ward at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Savannah, and was the nursing supervisor for the local Red Cross blood bank.
Until her retirement, she served as an office nurse and laboratory supervisor for Dr. J. Reid Broderick, M.D. and the Abercorn Medical Center
She was a communicant of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church and was a deeply devoted member of the J. Harry Persse Memorial Choir. She served the choir at times as organist and librarian of church music. In the absence of a choir director, for several years she planned the music for Sunday liturgies and special feast days.
She is survived by her sister, Patricia Persse of Savannah, brother, Jefferson D. Persse of Brooksville, Florida, sister and brother in law, Mary Kay Persse O’ Leary and Dan O’Leary of Savannah, sister in law, Mary Cartlidge Persse of Rockledge, Florida. She will be particularly missed by her 14 nieces and nephews and 19 great nieces and great nephews who will always remember her as their Aunt Win.

Visitation will be Wednesday, August 23, 2006 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors Hodgson Chapel with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, August 24, 2006 at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with burial in the Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church Organ Fund, the J. Harry Persse Memorial Scholarship Fund at Armstrong Atlantic State University, or Saint Vincent’s Academy.
Pallbearers will be Patrick J. Persse, Timothy F. Persse M.D., James R. Persse, Robert L. Persse, Jefferson Persse, Michael Persse, Lt. Col. John Michel ret., and James Thomas.

FOX AND WEEKS FUNERAL DIRECTORS HODGSON CHAPEL