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BORN
1951
DIED
2022
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Patrick Kearney Obituary
Thetford Center, VT — Patrick Francis Kearney, 71, died on Thursday, September 1, 2022, in Thetford Center, VT after being diagnosed and treated for lung cancer. He was born in Sayre, Pennsylvania on August 6, 1951, the son of Patrick Joseph and Rose Dixon Kearney. Patrick was the oldest of six children and was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Kevin James and Michael Joseph Kearney and his daughter Emily Rose Kearney. He is survived by his son Paul Kearney and his daughter-in-law Jill Rotondo of South Burlington, Vermont; his brother Thomas Kearney and his sister-in-law Rebecca Pschirrer of Hanover, New Hampshire; his sister Helen Kovatch and her husband Steven Kovatch of Jefferson Township, Pennsylvania; his sister Maureen Doyle Westhampton, New Jersey; his former wives Margaret Kearney of Rochester, New York, Ann Kearney of Thetford Center, Vermont, and Ruth Moore of Burlington, Vermont; and five nephews and nieces.
Patrick moved to Vermont when he was 25. He had a wonderful life during which he held many jobs, made hundreds of friends and was blessed with good fortune and opportunity. He worked as a steel worker, house parent in a psychiatric hospital, carpenter, labor organizer, graphic artist, political activist, special education assistant, produce clerk, hostel manager and numerous other occupations. His brother Tom donated a kidney to him in 1994 and that made all the difference. Because of that sacrifice, Patrick was able to lead an active life and maintain overall excellent health. At the age of 60 he rode a single-speed bicycle from Derby Line Quebec to the Massachusetts border in one day. He left this world feeling grateful to his family, to the friends he made along the way and for the love he received from all of them.
In lieu of flowers, please donate blood or consider becoming an organ donor. You can double the worth of your own life by sharing that gift with someone who needs it.
Knight Funeral Home of White River Junction is honored to be entrusted with assisting with Patrick's wishes of a private green burial that was held and online condolences to his family are appreciated at www.knightfuneralhomes.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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Sponsored by Knight Funeral Home & Crematory - White River Junction.
2 Entries
Jim Gold
September 4, 2022
Dear Tom, I was so sorry to hear of Patrick's passing. The two of you were a remarkable example of loving brothers who always were there for each other. Patrick was a quiet, principled, committed individual. His calming demeanor will be missed. Jim Gold
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Will Hively
September 3, 2022
I spent all of one day with Patrick about ten years ago and he profoundly changed my life. Can you believe it? That's the kind of person he was. He was going to a bicycle event in the Burlington area and offered to drive me both ways since I was also going. Boy, did we ever hit it off, talking about everything important in life. As a result of this ride, he inspired me to try the joys of single-speed and fixed-gear cycling, which I believe was more than just a sport for him, more of a discipline like meditation or a prayer-in-motion. I have been cycling fixed-gear ever since, and to this day I am riding on a pair of wheels he gave me. (I picked them up where he left them for me at the Hanover hostel without ever seeing him again.) I am so sorry to learn of his passing, and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to all his family and friends. Yet I am also glad to have experienced a mere glimmer of the remarkable, generous, warm human being he was, which all of you know full well.
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