Louise Anne Partin

Louise Anne Partin (ne Chapman), 63, of Austin, Texas, and Peterborough, NH, passed away after a normal work day, unexpectedly and quietly during the night Monday, August 13th in her home in Texas with her dog Tucker and her two cats by her side. She was born August 4th, 1955 in Havre de Grace, Maryland, the daughter of Mary (ne Lanahan) and Francis Chapman. A 40-year resident of Texas, she lived in Ohio prior to moving to Peterborough, NH in 1965.

Louise graduated with honors from Contoocook Valley Regional High School in Peterborough, NH in 1973 and completed her studies at Washington University Medical School, in their top-ranking Program in Physical Therapy, in St. Louis Missouri in 1977, where she got a B.S. in Physical Therapy.

She started her career at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas where she worked as a physical therapist from 1977 to 1980 and became the assistant team leader for burn and pain management for patients. In the early 80s she worked at Irving Community Hospital, Seton Medical Center, Girling Health Care, Inc., the Visiting Nurse Association of Tarrant County, and the City of Austin Home Health Department - Adult Home Care where she was Senior Physical Therapist for 10 years. From the mid 1990's until 2007 she worked as an independent consulting therapist for St. David’s Medical Center, National Quality Care, Multipoint Healthcare, Concepts of Care, St. David’s Home Health, The Visiting Nurse Association of South-Central Texas, Lifeway Home Health, the Medical Team, INTREPID USA, and Gentiva Health Services.

During the last eleven years, she continued to work as an independently employed physical therapist for two branches of Encompass Home Health Services in Austin, TX. She was an active member of the Texas Physical Therapy Association, Geriatric Section Member, and American Physical Therapy Association.

Anyone who knew Louise knew she wanted you to move and be active every day and that laughter created good air exchange, meaning laughter is fun and improves one’s health. She was extraordinarily knowledgeable about the human body and time and again impressed even her own doctors with her astute physical therapy skills; surgeons sought her out as their physical therapist. She used to say there were only two body parts that could not benefit from exercise: one’s nose and earlobes. She threw herself fully into every new patient’s situation and needs and rescued many a patient that needed to be sent immediately back to the ER, taking the extra time necessary to make sure it happened. Many, many patients have benefited from her systematic and complete approach to rehabilitation and her relentless guidance to keep moving. For those most disillusioned patients she brought her fairy wand which she kept in the car and otherwise infused a good dose of humor into her daily life and work. She provided guidance and advice to an amazing cross section of society and rejoiced in human diversity. She had a plan for every single person’s situation and she was not afraid to sound the alarm on behalf of her patients. Clearly, many of her patients warmed her heart and she rejoiced as they made progress. Louise was highly respected in the medical community, deeply valued and will be sorely missed.

Louise was always the go-to person in our big family for explaining medical conditions: she was like a walking medical encyclopedia. She had a medical power of attorney for her parents and helped them understand their health issues throughout their senior years and made vital medical decisions on their behalf towards the end of their lives. She was an important part of the sibling team that cared for our elderly parents these past 15 years.

In her personal life, Louise was an avid animal lover. She always had two to three much loved, well-cared for rescue cats and usually a rescue dog in her home throughout her life. She took several long, brisk walks every day with her well-behaved, big dog. Her vet once told her that if there was reincarnation he hoped that he could come back as her pet; she treated her animals that well.

She was also an avid gardener and visitor at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center where she yearly bought native plants that were drought resistant for her big, well-tended yard. She created a little oasis that even attracted owls, which brought her great joy. When her milkweed plants recently hosted 11 monarch butterfly caterpillars, she was thrilled. Louise was practically a professional seamstress and when she was in her twenties, a 90-y.o. woman in Dallas taught her to piece and quilt by hand. Louise created beautiful quilts for family and friends and our favorite Christmas tree decorations were handmade by Louise. She took oil painting classes and produced some beautiful pieces of work. Louise was also active in her neighborhood and initiated the 'Neighbor Breakfast' (3rd Sat. of the month) – so popular that even neighbors who had moved away still gathered and will continue to do so in remembrance of Louise. And Louise always, always had a great country tune for every occasion and emotion.

Louise's sense of humor, combined with her sharp mind and wit, was unparalleled and will, indeed be missed.

Louise is predeceased by her father Francis (2018), her mother Mary (2017) and her brother Dennis (2003). She is survived by her siblings and their spouses, Kathleen (Goh), Kevin, Mark and Elizabeth (David); as well as 8 nieces and nephews. She left much undone and left us far too young and vibrant.

A Catholic service will be held in Peterborough, NH, for Louise on October 29th,
11 a.m. at Divine Mercy Church; private burial in Peterborough. Another Catholic service will be held in Austin, in Louise’s honor; details to be announced. To share memories, photographs, and condolences with Louise’s family please visit her permanent online guest registry at www.beckchapels.com Austin, TX and www.cournoyerfh.com Jaffrey, NH. Messages can also be sent to kcgoh@start.no

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Texas Society for the Protection of Animals https://www.spca.org/memorialgiving.