Patricia Ann Dempsey

A good life, well lived.

Mrs. Patricia Ann Dempsey, of Queensbury, NY, passed on 19 July unexpectedly in the Glens Falls Hospital. She is survived by her daughter Sharon Harris and her husband Greg of Dunellon, Fla., son Lt Col (ret) James Dempsey Jr. and his wife Jane of Dexter, Michigan, Maura Mark and her husband Ed of Goleta, Calif., Kelly Dempsey-Little of Glens Falls, NY, Shawn Dempsey of Lisbon, Me. And grandchildren Ryan Trombley and his wife Jessica of Boulder, CO, MSgt Adam F. Dempsey and his wife Caroline of Pomfret, MD, Erin Conrad and her husband John of Kalamazoo, MI, Kendra Mark and Erica Mark of Goleta, Calif. Jack Strange of Philadelphia, PA. Lyndsay Strange of Vail, CO., Alexandra Pellegrini of Olympia, WA. Great-Grandchildren Azure Trombley, Sean, Cathleen and Kieran Dempsey and Madelyn Conrad and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Born Patricia Ann Doheny in Boston, MA, she was a scion of the Doheny’s of Boston, MA, a fact of which she was immensely proud. Her parents were father John Doheny and Dorothy, nee Lavery, also of Boston. Touched as she was by the humor of her father, Patricia was enjoying life literally to the end, as she endeavored to make her passage as easy as possible on her family, who were by her side. Her last enjoyable moment was a Mai Tai and Hibachi dinner in Lake George with daughter Kelly finished off by a Martha’s ice cream cone!

A graduate of Rosary Academy in Watertown, MA she then made her way east to Lake George, NY for summer employment at the Fort William Henry Hotel in the early 40’s. It was while frittering away her father's money at that summer resort that she ran into a dashingly handsome local, a solid Irish-descended beau, who became putty in her hands. Much to the horror of her mother, Patricia decided she would have this man as her own. She should have checked the closet in his bedroom (of course, back in those days, unmarried ladies had *no* idea what their beau's bedrooms looked like). In that closet was the uniform of a Corporal of the United States Army. This being 1943, that had a significance beyond simply a darn fine-looking suit. The newlywed Mrs. Dempsey then waved her bright and shiny Corporal off to fight in a B-25 bomber in Corsica, Italy.

A Purple Heart later, Corporal Dempsey returned from Corsica, ready to begin civilian life. Eschewing the life of a Boston post-war bride that her mother felt she should have, Patricia went with her husband back to his hometown of Hudson Falls, NY (soon afterwards daughter Sharon was born), in Glens Falls, where Patricia made her family a home on Orville Street and then moved to June Drive in Queensbury. It was in this early suburban neighborhood son Jim Jr. (Chip) and daughter Maura were born.

As husband Jim’s family business Dempsey Block and Steel prospered, Patricia continued to expand their brood welcoming Kelly and a move to Meadow Drive to a bigger manse. Somewhere during all this fun expansion and adventure, she developed a card shark's skill at Bridge, a talent that would come in handy later in life.

After a stint as Manager of Robert Gardens Apartment Complex, where she learned the subtle art of keeping tenants happy, she and Jim retired to Naples, Florida.

During this time, Patricia kept her sanity by spending lots of time enjoying herself playing bridge and Red Hatting while husband Jim gallivanted about Collier County, FL playing every golf course that would accept him and his buddies. Life was good for them and their family loved visiting during the winter months enjoying their hospitality. Eventually, she discovered the challenges of aging and moved back to Queensbury to be closer to family.

Pat endured many major medical events with no complaint and always a fighting spirit. As a reward, Pat lived a long life, and was the central linchpin that held it all together. She spent her life maintaining the family hub. She played ruthless bridge every month with the same core group since the late 50’s. There wasn't a crossword puzzle safe from her pencil. She enjoyed herself immensely with her grandchildren, secure in the knowledge that she could always pass those babies back to their parents.

A pillar of strength in the bad times and a beacon of humor always, Patricia Ann Dempsey will be sorely missed by those who knew and loved her.

I know I do, and she hasn't been gone for 12 hours yet.

Don't be sad. She had a good life, well lived.


Join us next Saturday, July 28 at Singleton's on Bay Rd in Queensbury to celebrate her life. 10am-12pm.