Obituary of A. Patricia Donohue

The Belle of Binghamton has left the stage. Patricia Donohue passed away peacefully at Lourdes Hospital on Sunday September 23 leaving behind many bereft friends and family. Born in Hallstead Pa. the youngest of 10 children (Kate, Tim(Brod), Charlie, Marge, Neil, Dick, Paul, Mary, and Sally) in an Irish Catholic family, she lost her father, Cornelius(Scotty), at a young age and eventually moved with her beloved mother, Alice Teresa(Trace), and siblings to Binghamton NY where she resided for the rest of her life. She was the proud descendant of Nell Connor, the heroine of the 1913 Binghamton Clothing Fire. Precocious and musically inclined, she went on as a young adult to join the TriCities Opera where she appeared in over a dozen productions as a mezzo soprano, most notably Rigoletto, La Traviata, and Madame Butterfly, and was named a charter member. She adored the stage, and performed for the rest of her life with many theater companies such as the Susquehanna Players, Binghamton Civic Theater, Summer Savoyards, and the Valley Players, appearing in countless venues around the region. It would be impossible to list all the plays she has appeared in, but in later years would perform two one-woman plays with regularity - The Belle of Amherst, based on the life of Emily Dickinson, and Solo Flight, based on Rev. Jeanette Piccard who flew high atmospheric balloons and was one of the first female Episcopal priests. Both roles were dear to her heart, aligning with her passion for feminism and social justice - causes which led to her activism with Sarah's Circle, a group of Catholic women who advocated for women's equality in the church. She regularly performed for the rest of her life at events for a variety of organizations whether it was in plays, reciting poetry, or singing. In 1999 Binghamton recognized her theatrical talent and decades-long contributions to the community by awarding her a star on the Binghamton Walk of Fame. She worked at a variety of jobs - Kroehler's, Federal Telephone operations, and receptionist at AIM. Following her retirement, and not one to sit idle, she devoted countless hours as a volunteer to organizations such as Hospice and the Mental Health Players, where her quick wit, generous nature and ability to connect with anyone were greatly appreciated. She also dedicated significant time to progressive groups such as Citizen Action and could be easily spotted (wearing a pink hat and leopard print scarf) more often than not at a meeting, tabling, or protest for a variety of causes she cared deeply about. Often she would lead others in protest songs she had written herself. She was also known for the poems she wrote for important events in the lives of the people she cared about. She was absolutely beloved by her extended family who cannot imagine another family reunion without her. Her Woodburn Court family (Freda, Ruth, Maria, Mickey, and others) will miss her daily forays through the halls. Her friends, her fellow activists, those she has comforted, and those she has inspired, are all adrift without her. There will never be another like her. Funeral Services will be held at the J. A. McCormack Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main Street, Binghamton, Friday at 11 a.m. Rev. Timothy J. Taugher will officiate. Burial will be in St. Lawrence Cemetery, Great Bend, PA. The family will receive friends at the McCormack Funeral Home, Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in Patricia's memory can be made to Citizen Action of New York – Southern Tier Chapter 477 State St. Binghamton, NY. 13901.