Patricia Furey McDonnell

Patricia Furey McDonnell, daughter of Vincent and Martha (Schroeder) Furey, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2020, with family in attendance, at her home in Exton, PA.

 Patricia (Pat) was born on December 9, 1931, in Upper Darby, Philadelphia, PA. She was a graduate of St. Katherine of Sienna, Wayne PA, and Notre Dame de Namur, Villanova, PA. Pat earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Immaculata College, Immaculata, PA. After her college graduation, she married James F. McDonnell of Wayne, PA. They lived in Norristown, PA for more than 30 years, raising seven children. Pat was preceded in death by her husband Jim in 2011. Surviving are her children Colleen McDonnell Caffery and husband Glenn, Jim McDonnell and wife Wendy, Jeff McDonnell and husband Daniel Gray, Brian McDonnell and wife Julie, Kathryn McDonnell, Pamela McDonnell Snow and husband Richard, and Kevin McDonnell and wife Carolyn; and grandchildren Emily and Celia Caffery, Brendan and Amanda McDonnell, Maya McDonnell, Madeleine and Lauren Elsea, Holly and Jared Snow, and Tierney and Liam McDonnell; and siblings Elise Furey Dunne and Vincent Furey.

 Faith was an important part of Pat’s life. She was a longtime parishioner of St. Teresa of Avila Church in Norristown, PA, and was an active member of the church choir and several other church groups. All her children attended St. Teresa’s elementary school, and Pat commented on how many times she had to bake cupcakes for ‘special’ lunch days at the school. Later in life, Pat was a member of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Lake Harmony, PA and St. Andrew Catholic Church, Cape Coral, FL, singing in the choir at each. (She was an alto.)     

 Before marrying, Pat worked at Bishop’s in Malvern, and after her children were all in school, worked for a CPA in King of Prussia for several years, then as a bookkeeper at Corbett in Norristown, putting that economics degree to use. Pat was an avid card player, especially bridge. She was in two different bridge clubs in Norristown and was always looking for a game. To her great despair, none of her children developed an affinity for bridge. Pat also was a great seamstress, making many of her own clothes, baptismal gowns, prom dresses, flower girls dresses for three weddings, curtains, and a host of other home textiles.  Pat was an accomplished home cook and assembled a vegetarian cookbook after four of her children became vegetarians.

 When Pat and Jim retired, they moved to their house in Holiday Pocono, Albrightsville, PA. There she became active in her community’s Friendship Club. Pocono winters can be cold, so Jim and Pat became snowbirds and spent 15 winters at Waters Edge Condominiums in Cape Coral, FL. Pat loved the warmth, the pool, and the community, and missed all her FL friends when she moved back to PA permanently in 2014. Pat lived for five years at Bellingham Retirement Community, and the past year in Thomas Meeting Apartments in Exton, PA. 

 Pat had been an avid reader but had to quit when she lost her eyesight to macular degeneration. She then became a serious consumer of audiobooks. All her children commented on some of the racy passages in the audiobooks. What was their mother listening to? We’re still blushing.

Pat had a lifelong love for animals, particularly cats and dogs, and always welcomed visits from her “grandpets.”

Pat McDonnell had a long, good life. She enjoyed simple pleasures, especially food. Especially Peppermint Patties. The hospice and other caregivers raved about what a lovely patient she was, and how she was a joy to be around. Pat negotiated all life’s curves, and did so with grace and wisdom. She was a great wife, mother, and friend. She was loved and gave love in return. She will be sorely missed, although she is now in a better place, singing with a different choir.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her visitation on Friday, July 16, 2021 from 10-11am at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church 31 Pennswood Road Bryn Mawr, PA, followed by her Memorial Mass at 11am. Interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery. For condolences, please visit https://www.maugergivnish.com/  Memorial gifts may be made to the SPCA https://www.spcai.org/, or the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, who provided “talking books” for many years, https://www.carnegielibrary.org/give/.

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