Patricia O’Hearne

June 19, 2022

Patricia Johnston O’Hearne of Delray Beach, FL and formerly of Fairfield, CT and Boston, MA died surrounded by family Sunday, June 19 at the age of 84.

Pat was born in Brooklyn on April 9, 1938, to Patricia and Robert Emmett Johnston. The oldest of three daughters, she was 10 and 11 years older than her sisters and famously thought the elder was her 10th birthday present.

After high school at Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead, NY, she earned a Bachelor’s degree from Barry University (then Barry College) in Miami, FL in 1959 and later a Master’s degree from Fairfield University. She was a loyal and proud alumna of her schools, particularly Barry where there is a scholarship in her name.

Pat met Dave O’Hearne in high school. After years of friendship, they began dating in her senior year of college and married on April 29, 1961. They moved often – sometimes across town, sometimes many states away. They lived in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut (four homes in same town!), Colorado, New Hampshire and ultimately Florida. With each move, Pat quickly created a warm and lovely home and began welcoming family and friends.

Pat was a force to be reckoned with – a natural leader with many passions, she worked as a journalist, teacher, bookstore owner and politician. She was also an enthusiastic traveler who particularly enjoyed Windstar Cruises and their biannual crossing between the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.

An ardent supporter of the Democratic Party, she once served as the Clerk in the Connecticut State Senate, and she volunteered extensively on campaigns in Connecticut, Colorado and Florida. She sent red, white and blue flowers to her grandchildren on their 18th birthdays to remind them to register to vote.

She was a devout Catholic, a longtime parishioner and Eucharistic Minister at St. Pius X in Fairfield and more recently at St. Lucy Catholic Church in Highland Beach.

She disliked “nonsense,” swearing, complainers and sitting still. She loved reading, making French toast and blueberry pancakes for her grandchildren, talking on the phone, gardening, going to tea and organizing a dinner to celebrate…almost anything. She was the proud Vice President of the Pat O’Hearne Club. With all that, she survived 84 years without being wrong once.

In addition to raising her three children, Pat was the indulgent mother and grandmother of many pets over the years, including her favorite dog, the late and greatly missed Dracula “Drac” O’Hearne.

She is survived by David B. O’Hearne, her beloved husband of 61 years; their children Brian O’Hearne, Mary O’Hearne and Jennifer Shepard; daughter-in-law Kerry Moynihan; son-in-law Michael J. Shepard; sisters Stefanie Gugelot and Mary Blum; brother-in-law Peter Blum; grandchildren CPL Patrick O’Hearne, USMC, Liam Shepard, Deirdre Shepard, ENS Aidan O’Hearne, USN and Brendan Shepard; nieces Deirdre Gugelot and Caitlin Moran; cousin Michael Botty and many other cousins who came after him; two greatnieces and two great-nephews; and countless friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Trustbridge Hospice at Bethesda Hospital East where the nurses took such good care of her. Trustbridge – Bethesda Memorial Care Center, 2815 S Seacrest Blvd, Bonton Beach, FL 33435 https://trustbridge.com/ donate-now/