Patricia JoAnn Tau-Toussaint
July 7th, 1958 - April 29th, 2026
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Patricia's Obituary
Patricia JoAnn Tau-Toussaint, 67, born on July 7, 1958 to the late Ralph L. Tau and Margaret L. Headrick, died on April 29, 2026 at the University of Chicago Hospital in Chicago. Arrangements have been entrusted to Sommerfeld Chapel – 15 N. Barton St., New Buffalo, MI.
Patty leaves behind her 5 siblings – Susan Tau, Chester Tau, Mary Beth Coyle, Virginia Pitts and Daniel Tau; her three children – Brandon Tau of New Buffalo, Shauni Hinman of New Buffalo and Gabrielle Toussaint of Stevensville.
Patty grew up on a black Angus farm in Saegertown, PA where she learned her strong work ethic. She also learned to cook and bake from her mother, who she referred to as “Saint Margaret.” Patty also got her mothers kind and giving heart.
Patty graduated from Cambridge Springs High School in 1976. She graduated from The Culinary Institute in May 1982. After graduating from the CIA, she took off for Anchorage, AK where she went to work right away for the Sheraton Hotel. Patty was also Pastry Chef for the Hilton Hotel in Anchorage. She also went back to school and received two more Associates degrees. She sold advertising for The Anchorage Daily News and also worked at Anchorage International Airport processing freight planes through customs, among other jobs.
Patty met her husband (Derek) in 1990 and decided to move to the lower 48 in Aug. 1995. They packed up and drove down the Al-Can Highway camping along the rivers and mountains of Deadhorse, The Yukon, Calgary, and down into Montana. The family ended up in New Buffalo on beautiful Lake Michigan and has called SW Michigan home ever since.
Patty has been doing a variety of jobs as well as cooking and baking. She worked at: The Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce from 2000-2005; she started Harbor Country Transportation in 2005 because she felt a need for it in the area; then the Blue Chip Casino as a Sous Pastry Chef; also at the Marina Grand and Harbor Grand as the Pastry Chef until she retired from baking in 2013. Patty also got her commercial driver’s license in 2012 and was currently working at Four Winds Casino in the transportation department.
Patty loved to travel and has been in 49 of our 50 states and has driven across much of Canada too.
Patty has lived her life for her children doing and giving them all she could …… they were her priority.
Patty had a great sense of humor and loved to make others laugh.
A Memorial Celebration of Life will take place on Sat. – May 23, at 11:00am, at Sommerfeld Chapel. Visiting with the family precedes the service from 10:00-11:00am at the funeral home. Her wishes are to be cremated and her cremated remains will be taken to Anchorage, AK for her final resting place.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of the donor’s choice. Friends wishing to leave the family a message of condolence may do so at www.sommerfeldchapel.com
Patty leaves behind her 5 siblings – Susan Tau, Chester Tau, Mary Beth Coyle, Virginia Pitts and Daniel Tau; her three children – Brandon Tau of New Buffalo, Shauni Hinman of New Buffalo and Gabrielle Toussaint of Stevensville.
Patty grew up on a black Angus farm in Saegertown, PA where she learned her strong work ethic. She also learned to cook and bake from her mother, who she referred to as “Saint Margaret.” Patty also got her mothers kind and giving heart.
Patty graduated from Cambridge Springs High School in 1976. She graduated from The Culinary Institute in May 1982. After graduating from the CIA, she took off for Anchorage, AK where she went to work right away for the Sheraton Hotel. Patty was also Pastry Chef for the Hilton Hotel in Anchorage. She also went back to school and received two more Associates degrees. She sold advertising for The Anchorage Daily News and also worked at Anchorage International Airport processing freight planes through customs, among other jobs.
Patty met her husband (Derek) in 1990 and decided to move to the lower 48 in Aug. 1995. They packed up and drove down the Al-Can Highway camping along the rivers and mountains of Deadhorse, The Yukon, Calgary, and down into Montana. The family ended up in New Buffalo on beautiful Lake Michigan and has called SW Michigan home ever since.
Patty has been doing a variety of jobs as well as cooking and baking. She worked at: The Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce from 2000-2005; she started Harbor Country Transportation in 2005 because she felt a need for it in the area; then the Blue Chip Casino as a Sous Pastry Chef; also at the Marina Grand and Harbor Grand as the Pastry Chef until she retired from baking in 2013. Patty also got her commercial driver’s license in 2012 and was currently working at Four Winds Casino in the transportation department.
Patty loved to travel and has been in 49 of our 50 states and has driven across much of Canada too.
Patty has lived her life for her children doing and giving them all she could …… they were her priority.
Patty had a great sense of humor and loved to make others laugh.
A Memorial Celebration of Life will take place on Sat. – May 23, at 11:00am, at Sommerfeld Chapel. Visiting with the family precedes the service from 10:00-11:00am at the funeral home. Her wishes are to be cremated and her cremated remains will be taken to Anchorage, AK for her final resting place.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of the donor’s choice. Friends wishing to leave the family a message of condolence may do so at www.sommerfeldchapel.com
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