Thomas Patrick Crowley

Thomas Patrick Crowley

OWASCO - Thomas Patrick Crowley, 56, raised in the Hamlet of Fleming, most recently residing in the Town of Owasco, went to be with our Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.

Tom, a proud Irish Catholic, spent his life serving others. Tom proudly served our country in the United States Army from 1986 to 1988, A Troop 3rd Division 12th Cavalry Scout serving in Germany during the Cold War. Tom went on to serve in the Army National Guard of New York as 1/108th Infantry and became a noncommissioned officer during his service from 1990-1993.

In July of 1993, Tom was hired at the Ithaca City Fire Department, where he served the Ithaca Community for 27 years before retiring in 2020 to spend the next three years with his family and friends, hunting, fishing, and trying to live his best life.

Additionally, Tom was a proud member and former officer of the SK Post of the American Legion, Auburn, serving in the Color Guard and the firing squad. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of their 4th Degree.

Quite the jokester, Tom was well known for his quirky ways and sense of humor. You had to know him, though, as his facial expressions and reactions, or lack thereof, made it impossible to tell if he was serious or not. Those who truly knew him knew he would always have a pocketknife in his possession and that he wasn't afraid to show people. It always made for a funny conversation.

He didn't like people to know, but his heart was pure gold! He would give to those in true need without any hesitation whatsoever. Tom was friends with many but never truly realized how many people loved him.

An avid hunter and fisherman, Tom could be found in trout streams all season long, on a frozen lake to ice fish all winter long, and in the woods hunting birds with his trusted bird hunting partner, our Brittany Spaniel, Lucy and, when able, his best buddy, Alex. Tom helped teach our boys, Owen and Alex, how to gut a deer, fly fish, ice fish, bird hunt, and practice hunting and fishing safely.

Tom met his wife through mutual friends at IFD while workingin Ithaca. Tom, a firefighter, and Crystal, a nurse, quickly became friends and fell in love. Tom took her boys, Owen and Alex, under his wing and loved them as if they were his own sons.

Crystal, Owen, and Alex underwent RCIA to become part of the Catholic faith, and Tom also became Owen and Alex's Godfather, while Tom's mother, Margaret, became Crystal's Godmother.

Tom is survived by his wife, Crystal; his stepsons: Owen and Alex Overhiser; father, Hugh Crowley; brother, Gary (Stacy) Crowley; mother and father-in-law, Cynthia and Rick Truax; brothers-in-law: Ryan (Carolyn) Root, Russell (Jessica) Root, and Roy (Amber) Root; aunts, uncles, and cousins from the Crowley and O'Hara families; nephews: Andrew Crowley, Kalib Root, and Evan Root; nieces: Ellen Crowley, Madelyn Root, Kaili Root, Kaidince Root, Adelaide Root, Cora Root, Emmeline Root and Charlotte Root; his other Godson, Joshua Patti; and many many friends and fire department brothers.

Tom is predeceased by his loving mother, Margaret O'Hara Crowley; paternal grandparents, Hugh and Helen Crowley; maternal grandparents, Walter and Agnes O'Hara; some aunts, uncles, and cousins from both sides of his family.

Friends are invited to join the family for a Mass of Christian Burial to be offered at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, November 30, 2023 in Holy Family Church. Burial with full Military Honors will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Calling hours for Tom will be conducted Wednesday, November 29, 2023 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the White Chapel Funeral Home, Inc., 197 South Street, Auburn.

A charity close to Tom's heart was Food For the Poor. A charity in faith that provides, a cow, chickens, fruit trees, wells for water, medicine or whatever you pick to pay for, for poor children and families in the Caribbean and Latin America who truly do not have the access or governmental help like we do in the United States. If you would like to donate in Tom's memory, please go to foodforthepoor.org.

To offer condolences to the family, please visit http://www.whitechapelfh.com.