Patrick B. Haughney Obituary (1936 - 2021)

Mr. Patrick B. Haughney, 85, passed peacefully on October 28, 2021 at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ. Visiting will be held in the Prout Funeral Home, 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona, NJ on Sunday, October 31 from 2 to 5 pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in the Our Lady of the Lake Church, Verona on Monday, November 1 at 10:30 am. Face masks and social distancing will be required. Born in New York City and raised in Ridgewood, Queens, Patrick lived in Cranford, NJ for 47 years before moving to Verona in 2020. He graduated from St. John's Preparatory School in NYC and earned a bachelor's degree from St. John's University and law degree from St. John's Law School. He proudly served in the US Army. Patrick was a corporate attorney and certified public accountant having last worked for Dreyfus Ashby in New York City, from which he retired in 2005. Patrick was someone who knew what he wanted and was steadfastly himself. Stoic and quietly brilliant, he often listened more than he spoke. He possessed a strong sense of justice, tempered with a strong inclination towards compassion. He looked for the spots where people needed love in their lives and occupied them with a disciplined attentiveness. He was the definition of a family man, and worked tirelessly to give his children and grandchildren the wonderful lives they now have. Whether he was "Pop," "Uncle Pat," or "Dad," he was a father to everyone and made those around him feel safe and protected. If you were his friend, you knew he could bring the laughs and the scotch. If you were his sibling, you knew you could always count on him. He was gentle, thoughtful, considerate, stern, stubborn, empathetic, generous, and often very funny. No one knew this better than his wife, Kathleen. He took excellent care of her throughout their 62 years together, meeting her when she was 16 and parting from her, only briefly, upon her passing at age 82 this past May. Those who knew Kathy and Pat are not shocked by his departure, not because of the time he endured without her but because of his unprecedented sense of loyalty. His unwavering support during her illness served as the ultimate example of devotion and love. He took care of all of it, he never shied away from a task, no matter how daunting. His very strong faith now carries him back to the arms of the woman he so loved, and he leaves behind a bereft but very grateful family. In his words, "the best things in life come with a little bit of pain." Losing him is so painful, but it's because there was truly no one better. He was predeceased by his devoted wife of 62 years, Kathleen Frances (nee Mulligan) Haughney; parents, James and Hanora (nee Hart) Haughney; brothers, James, Raymond, and John Haughney; sisters Helen and Theresa Lazarus; and niece, Kiran McCarthy. Mr. Haughney is survived by his beloved children, Brian Haughney (Eileen) and Anne Siller (Edward). He also served as a father to his eldest grandchild, Charlotte. Among his other cherished grandchildren are Wyatt, Duncan, Stella, Caroline, Patrick, Meaghan and Emmett. He is likewise survived by siblings, Maureen McCarthy, Peggy and Jack Sheridan, John Mulligan and Loretta and Hank Slattery; and many loving nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (www.cff.org), 4550 Montgomery Ave., Suite 1100N, Betheseda, MD 20814 would be appreciated. Condolences may be left at www.proutfuneralhome.com.