Ann Nezzio Weaver

Dr. Ann Nezzio Weaver, 73, of Lake Charles died at 8:11 PM on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 in her residence.

Ann graduated from Lake Charles High School in 1954 and earned her RN diploma from Loyola University/Hotel Dieu School of Nursing in New Orleans; her Bachelor of Science in nursing from McNeese State University; Master of Nursing Administration from Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans; and doctorate from Texas Women's University in Houston, TX.

Ann was the Lake Charles High School salutatorian and president of National Honor Society. She was the valedictorian of Hotel Dieu School of Nursing, as well as the student body president and recipient of the Charitas Christi Senior Honor Award. She was a member of the Louisiana State University Medical Center National Honor Society and listed in Who's Who Among Students in Who's Who Registry of Business Leaders: Worldwide Distinguished Member.

Ann spent 55 years in the active practice of nursing in clinical practice, education and hospital administration in Louisiana, Texas, and California. Her last job was the administrator of health services at PPG Industries from 2005-2009. She served as the chief nursing executive for 12 years at Christus St. Patrick Hospital and several hospitals in West Texas. She also taught nursing at McNeese State and Texas Tech Universities.

Ann's love for nursing and tennis are reflected in some of the honors she was fortunate to receive. She was a National Research Award grantee of the Robert Wood Johnson/Pew Charitable Trusts for "Strengthening Hospital Nursing: A program to improve patient care." Ann was named one of the top 3 leadership teams in healthcare among small hospitals in the nation in 2004. She and her father, Frank Nezzio, also organized the first chapter of the Mended Hears Association at St. Patrick Hospital. Ann was also a part of making national heart surgery history when the 1st U.S. coronary artery bypass surgery was performed on a beating heart when she was the chief nursing executive at Odessa Hospital in Odessa, TX. Ann is in the LCHS Wildcat Sports Hall of Fame for winning 2 Louisiana state tennis titles in doubles for 1953 and 54. She was also a charter member of the Lake Charles Racquet Club. Her love for children was shown in her years of service as a CASA volunteer.

Those left behind to remember her life are her two sons and their families, Richie Weaver and his wife Annette and two grandchildren Chelsea and Rick and Dr. Mark Weaver and grandchildren Franco, and her soul mate and the love of her life for 26 years, Pete Drozda. Other survivors include mother Nancy Nezzio of Lake Charles; brother and his wife Bill Nezzio and Carolyn of Thibodaux; sister and her husband Mary Nezzio Smith and Hunter of Lake Charles; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins; and Godchildren Joey Keith, Scott Smith, and Christina Streva.

She was preceded in death by her father, Frank Nezzio.

A memorial service will be held at 6:00 PM followed by a rosary on Friday, August 27, 2010 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Whitney Miller will officiate. Visitation will be on Friday from 4:00 PM until time of services. Burial will be held at Graceland Cemetery at a later date.