CHARLOTTE, NC – Patrick John Quinn, Sr. passed away peacefully on March 28, 2023, surrounded by members of his loving family. He was 90…and a half years old. That specific age was important to him, as it gave him enough extra time to have meaningful visits and conversations with those that he loved so much.
Pat was born on a family farm in Ballinakillew, Co. Donegal, Ireland on September 25, 1932, to Andrew and Margaret Quinn (Carron). He was the fifth of eight children, and he learned to work hard and do his honest part at an early age. Growing up on a rural farm in Depression era Ireland was in no way an easy life, but to hear Pat tell of it, adventures were to be found at every opportunity. His enthusiasm in telling the many stories of his childhood and homeland always brought a wide smile to listeners.
Educational opportunities were somewhat sparse in those times. Pat left school at the age of fourteen; but his natural intelligence and curiosity, coupled with his incredible work ethic and creative determination pushed him along to extraordinary successes.
Pat’s father had spent time working in the United States before marrying and starting a family in Ireland, and his endorsement of better opportunities prompted Pat to emigrate to the United States. Pat’s sister Mary and her husband Bill O’Farrell invited, welcomed, and sponsored him upon his arrival via the Britannic in New York in June of 1956. He agreed to be drafted into the U.S. Army. He served his new country’s military and proudly aced his citizenship test before relocating to Washington, D.C. There, he met and married the love of his life, Sheila, and started a family that would grow to eleven children over the course of the ensuing years. As the family grew, there were several moves to bigger houses, and better paying jobs in several towns in Massachusetts. With a large family to provide for, not too much came easily, but eventually, he settled into his own business as a dry cleaner and clothing specialist. The family business afforded his children the opportunity to learn the lesson of an honest day’s work, and that important example of hard work and determination really stuck.
Pat made several trips back to his magnificent homeland with his sons and daughters, passing along the magic of Ireland, and the history and knowledge of his extended Irish family.
His story is also one of loss, as five of his siblings and five of his children passed on before him. He was deeply affected and saddened by those losses, but his strong Catholic faith buoyed him; and mostly with Pat there was always a calm patience, and smiling enthusiasm, and fun stories, and a genuine deep love and loyalty for family.
Perhaps Pat’s greatest successes were his many positive qualities, from his quiet humility to his purposeful resolve, to his huge generosity, to his simple kindnesses for others. All of these will continue to be an example to those who knew him and loved him. He truly left this world better for having known him.
Pat was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Daniel Joseph, Andrew, Mary Theresa O’Farrell, Laurence Michael, and Francis Edward; and his children, Timothy Robert, Daniel Andrew, Mary Helen, Jane Elizabeth, and Thomas Michael. He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Mary Sheila (Axe) Quinn; his children, Lawrence Joseph, Patrick John Jr., Kevin Francis, Ann Marie, Kathleen Margaret Cram, and Grace Bernadette Slack; his sisters, Margaret Catherine “Gretta” Bieve and Ann Christina McCauley; son-in-law, Charles Cram; daughters-in-law, Jacqueline (Murphy) Quinn, Melissa Jean (Ewell) Quinn and Andrea (Michalkova) Quinn; and sixteen grandchildren: Sarah Jane Quinn, Shannon Judith Quinn, Shayla Murphy Quinn, Colin Daniel Quinn, Ossian Andrew Quinn, Hana Elizabeth Quinn, Sophia Margaret Quinn, Julia Jane Quinn, Angela Jane Syrett, Margaret Elizabeth Syrett, Kelleen Grace Cram, Breanna Maeve Cram, Regan Patrick Cram, Neave Elizabeth Cram, Noah Quinn Slack and Andrew Richard Slack. All who knew him will miss him and his gentle spirit. May he rest in peace.
Visitation will be at the Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel, 2133 Ebenezer Road, Rock Hill, SC on Sunday, April 2, 2023, from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Anne Catholic Church, 1694 Bird Street, Rock Hill, SC on Monday, April 3, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.