Obituary of Patricia R. Keane

Patricia Anne Riley Keane, 96, of Vestal, NY, died peacefully on March 21, 2023. Patty was predeceased by her husband of 43 years, Charles "Charlie" Daly Keane, her sister Jeanette Riley Hunt, her step-sister Ruth Riley and grandson Griffin Thomas Keane. She is survived by one daughter, Mary Keane Kacher, seven sons, Charles (Melissa) of Williamsburg, VA, Michael (Karen) of Darien, CT, Stephen (Amy) of Huntingdon Valley, PA, William (Jean) of Pittsford, NY, Timothy (Kathy) of Mansfield, MA, Thomas (Dana) of Columbia, MD and Robert (Karen) of Columbia, MD. Patty leaves 21 grandchildren, Nathan (Julia), Devin (Lindsey), Morgan (Christy), Michael Kacher, Elizabeth Conklin (Max), Sean (Melissa), Ryan (Linsey), Colin (Estefania), Kevin (Cansu), Christopher, Max, Kelsey Callin (Evan), Brian (Lauren), Erin Brown (Casey), Maeghan (Ryan Walter), Jessica, Sophie, Olivia, Nicholas, Connor (Dina) and Spenser Hegarty(Kieran); and 14 great-grandchildren, Everest, Arrow, Mars, Nolan, Samuel, Cameron, Charlotte, Ronan, Riley, Blair, Carter and Morgan Callin, Declan Hegarty, and Caroline Brown. Patty was born on February 20, 1927, in Rochester, NY. Shortly thereafter her family moved to Binghamton. Her parents, Marguerite Millham Riley and William 'Bill' Riley were wonderful role models. She attended Binghamton Central High School and developed lifelong friendships that she cherished deeply. Her love of singing and music was heightened by joining the chorus and playing the cello in the orchestra. She proudly declared herself a lifelong 'Binghamton girl'. After high school she worked as a telephone operator for the New York Telephone Company and later as a buyer for Sisson's department store. She met Charlie, the love of her life, at a New Year's Eve party, in 1948. They courted for 2 years and were married at St. John's Church on September 9, 1950. The female members of the wedding party were her best friends for 70 plus years. Their relationship was a loving role model for all of us, they were truly soulmates and as Mom would say, 'we became even closer as we got older'. 'Patty and Charlie' were inseparable, and they somehow attended innumerable school and community events while building a life together. When asked, 'how did you manage to raise 8 kids', her humble, sincere reply was always, 'I'm not sure, but mostly, I loved raising the family with Charlie, he and I were a great team'. When not caring for children, attending 3-4 sporting/band events in a day, Patty loved reading, walks at Quaker Lake with friends, playing bridge, and settling in for weekend dinners with Grandpa Keane and Grama Riley. Annual Thanksgiving and Christmas get togethers in Binghamton were always her favorite time of year. As the kids began to leave the house, she and Charlie found time to visit grandkids and travel abroad. Long deserved vacation trips were finally completed to England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy and in the US: the Northwest, California, Southwest and their favorite, the Grand Canyon. Charlie's health challenges began to limit long distance travel. Quality time was then spent at their co-op apartment, having breakfast together at home or at one of their favored diners. Dinner dates became a new favorite as they frequented special nights out for Italian food at Pino's. Keeping up with the kids by phone and reading their favorite authors filled their days. Nights and weekends in their cozy booklined den were dedicated to reading the current best-selling books, tuning in to local and national news, PBS political shows, the New York Mets, New York Giants, PGA Golf, US Open Tennis, Wimbledon and whatever special event was up next. When Charlie passed in 1993, it was a difficult period. Patty's lifelong friends were still close by, and she cherished them then more than ever. She filled her new life with volunteering at CHOW, taking a course at SUNY Binghamton, becoming more involved with her co-op board and joined a book club to discuss her favorite tomes. As the grandchildren began to arrive, she would be available to assist the newest Mom and Dad. 'I love babies, it's a miracle we can actually see!". The years passed, the visits to Vestal on Thanksgiving and Christmas continued, and as the family grew, we were forced to take over the Hampton Inn Vestal Conference rooms for holiday meals. She loved these gatherings and appreciated them even more, often wishing her Charlie could be with us. Her kindness, sense of humor, grace, and humility will always live on. She loved that her children and extended family gathered frequently and truly enjoyed their time together. Those precious family times will continue, and she will forever be within us. Her family wishes to express their deep gratitude for the kind support Patty received from Kathy Zulko Fitzgerald while she was still home. Also, many thanks to the wonderful caregivers at the Vestal Rehabilitation and Nursing Memory Center. There are far too many people to name, but they are all in our hearts. The family will receive friends at the J.A. McCormack Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main Street, Binghamton, 13905, 607-722-6923, https://jamccormack.com , on April 28, 2023 between 3.00 pm and 7.00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Angel Fund for ALS Research, 649 Main Street, Wakefield, MA 01880. www.theangelfund.org A Funeral Mass will be offered at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 801 Main Street, Vestal, NY 13850, April 29, 2023 at 10.30 am. Burial will be held at a later date.