Remembering ‘The Bear’ with a huge heart Tributes are paid to much-loved dad and workmate who loved joking around
More than 400 family members and friends packed into St John the Baptist RC Church in Perth to say their final farewells to wellknown local man Patrick O’donnell – affectionately nicknamed ‘The Bear’.
Paddy, who died in Perth’s Cornhill Macmillan Centre on March 10, was just a fortnight short of his 70th birthday.
A plant operator with Perth-based civil engineering company I and H Brown, an eight-ton, vibrant yellow, JCB digger with his name prominently displayed on the front led the funeral cortege from the Melville Street chapel to his final resting place in Scone New Cemetery.
Work colleague Jimmy Stewart, who first met Paddy almost half a century ago, readily agreed when asked by Paddy’s wife, Jean, to drive the digger on that final journey.
Before arriving at the cemetery, where over 100 had gathered to pay their last respects, the funeral procession did a lap of the Goshen area of Scone, where Paddy lived, pausing for a minute in front of his house as a poignant mark of respect.
As the coffin was lowered, ‘Dirty Old Town’, a favourite which Paddy would often sing, was played.
A very personal eulogy was prepared by his wife, Jean, and daughters Christie and Arleen, along with his brothers and sisters, and it was read out at the chapel service by Canon Steven Mulholland.
He also conducted the requiem mass, as well as the committal at the cemetery.
Paddy was born in Forfar on March 24, 1954, to Con and Teresa O’donnell, both of County Donegal in Ireland.
He was the fifth of seven children – a family which included two girls and five boys.
“He was a big, loving, gentle soul and many people knew him as ‘The Bear’,” stated Canon Mulholland.
After moving between Ireland and Scotland, the family settled in Kintillo, Bridge of Earn, and Paddy attended St John’s RC Primary School and then St Columba’s RC High School.
He was always a hard worker and tried his hand at many jobs, including helping his dad lay roads.
He eventually found his forte as a plant operator for I and H Brown where he worked for 44 years, driving his beloved yellow JCB.
Canon Mulholland continued: “Paddy was more than just an employee. It was more than a job to him – he was part of the family.”
Paddy tried out a few sports over the years – darts, golf and dominoes – and he also played football with some success, at one point winning the Norrie Miller Cup.
Canon Mulholland went on to explain: “But he was fed up when his older brothers used to coerce him into carrying the nets!
“But we all know Paddy’s real sport was drinking Guinness. His record was an impressive 46 pints in one shift – and anyone who tried to keep up with him failed miserably!”
Paddy had two daughters - Christie and Arleen.
He loved his family and was loved so much in return, even after the relentless tricks he played on his brothers and sisters when growing up.
Paddy was lucky to have five wonderful grandchildren: Blake, Max, Jack, Dylan and angel baby Natasha, and he was affectionately known as Papa Bear. He was immensely proud of that.
In 2000, Paddy met the love of his life, Jean, outside the Scone Arms.
When he told Christie he’d ‘met a new wummin,’, she said: “I hope it’s not that wee woman from the berries’”
When Jean opened the door in her straw hat, they all burst out laughing.
Paddy and Jean did everything together and enjoyed many good times, whether out in town with friends singing ‘Dirty Old Town’ on karaoke, at the bingo or watching his favourite film, ‘The Green Mile’, or his guilty pleasure, ‘Married at First Sight,’ in the house.
They were married in 2008 and spent a happy 24 years together, 15 of them as husband and wife.
“Jean cared so lovingly for Paddy right to the end and did him and the family proud,” explained Canon Mulholland.
“If you knew Paddy, you’d also know he was full of utter nonsense! He taught his family not to take life too seriously.
“From trying out his sister Kathleen’s hair rollers as a child, to impersonating Zac Dingle from Emmerdale, he was always up for a laugh.
“Even in his hardest days he was still cracking the jokes. From his bed in the hospice he asked Jean: ‘Do you practise being daft?’, and if you dared to mishear him, he’d shout ‘Are those lugs painted on?’
“We know everyone will have fond memories and stories of Paddy and we hope these will be shared and enjoyed for years to come.
“Jean and all of the family will always be proud of Paddy and want everyone to know how deeply loved he was.
“He will be remembered for his huge heart, loyalty, kindness, gentleness, friendship, strength, perseverance and not forgetting his sense of humour.”
Donations in memory of Paddy were accepted at the church for the Cornhill Macmillan Centre, Perth.
After the interment, family and friends gathered for refreshments at the Perth and District Ex-servicemen’s Club where singer Ally Alcorn entertained.
Paddy and Jean enjoyed listening to him live at weekends and he had been booked to provide the music at Paddy’s 70th birthday on March 24.
When he heard of Paddy’s passing, Ally offered to sing at the social club last week free of charge.
He opened with ‘Dirty Old Town’ and then sung a mixture of well-known Irish songs and other classics.