Patrick Rudden

RUDDEN, Patrick Patrick (Pat) Vincent Rudden passed away peacefully on September 14th, 2009 at his home in Kingston, Ontario. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Mary Louise (McCool). Loving father of Terry (Valerie Assinewe), Maura, Eileen (Bill Beaudette), Sheilagh (Gary Sparks), Angela, and Martha (Bruce Wilson), grandfather of Sean and Adam Beaudette, Riley and Erin Sparks, Emily and James Rudden, Keren Gordon (Adam Carroll) and Leslie Bristo, and great-grandfather of Simon and Leo Carroll. Pat was also pre-deceased by his parents Francis and Mary Rudden, and his brother Francis (Helen). Pat was born in 1920 in Drumaharrid, Ireland, a country to which he retained a lifelong attachment throughout his 89 years. He emigrated to Canada with his family in 1925 and settled in Cornwall, where Pat attended Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Ottawa and, following military service overseas during WWII, attended law school at Osgoode Hall in Toronto. Throughout his lengthy career, Pat established himself as one of Ontario's most accomplished trial lawyers. His passion, dedication and significant contribution to his profession were well recognized by his peers and clients alike, and were reflected in his appointment as Queen's Counsel. Pat was a joyful and committed contributor to the life of his community on many levels - an actor and supporter of community theatre and music, an active member of St. Francis de Sales Parish, a member of the Cornwall Golf and Country Club, an adviser for marriage preparation courses, a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, an appointed member of the National Welfare Council, a member of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 297, and for many years keeper of the Blarney Stone in Cornwall. He was a popular and entertaining guest speaker, and over the years was the subject of innumerable roasts and mock trials to raise funds for the causes he supported. A great lover of the outdoors, Pat spent many happy hours hiking along nature trails, swimming in the Saint Lawrence River and picking mushrooms wherever he could find them. In his later years Pat took up painting; and although he cannot be said to have set the art world ablaze, he found much joy traveling around the world putting paint to canvas.at's other great love was music; in addition to his many roles - husband, father and grandfather, lawyer, golfer, painter, soldier, speaker, volunteer - Pat will be fondly remembered by many as "the man who sang while he shopped at Dominion". Resting at the WILSON FUNERAL HOME, 822 Pitt Street, Cornwall where visitation will be held on Thursday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM and Friday 11 AM -12:15 PM. The Mass of the Resurrection with Commendation and Farewell will be celebrated in St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church, 434 Second St., West Cornwall on Friday September 18, 2009 at 1:00 PM. Rite of Committal at a later date in St. Columban's Parish Cemetery Cornwall. If so desired contributions in his memory to Child Haven International, RR1 Maxville, Ontario K0C 1T0 would be appreciated by the family. The family expresses its deep gratitude to the many people who supported and cared for Pat in his final months. Special thanks to the staff and residents of Briargate Retirement Living Centre in Amherstview for their friendship, support and gentle care of our father. Online messages of condolence may be made in the obituary section of: www.wilsonfuneralhome.ca