The Family of Patricia Jones O'Rourke, Trinity Academy Teacher, Have Announced Her Death

by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com
Published 2:03pm

Credit: O'Rourke Family

ROSELAND, NJ - The family of Patricia Ann Jones O'Rourke has announced that she passed away on 
Monday at the age of 73. Her family and friends are deeply saddened by their loss and the community will mourn her absence. 

Originally from Teaneck, Patricia was the third of six children born to Paul John Jones and Ann O'Leary.


 

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"Paul was an accomplished yet humble engineer and
Ann was a caring mother and devout Irish Catholic," explained a family member.
"They taught her the importance of good manners, great faith, and that character is measured by who you are when no one is watching.
Patricia was incredibly proud of her parents and
her greatest aim was to make them proud in return."

Always a gifted student throughout her education, Patricia graduated high school from the Academy of the Holy Angels and went on to graduate with honors from what is now Caldwell University. 

After college, Patricia earned her two Masters Degrees; a Masters in English from Seattle University and a Masters in Education from Seton Hall University.
She spent over four decades teaching and impacting countless lives around her. Her educational background eventually positioned her for many years of teaching English and Composition to the upper grades at Trinity Academy in Caldwell.  

"Patricia was fortunate enough to spend her life doing what she loved.
She was a teacher with an extraordinary hope in children.
She was a great thinker and an even greater listener
and she knew every answer at Jeopardy," her family member detailed.
"She always had a thoughtful response for those
who looked to her for support, guidance, and perspective.  

Infused by her fascination with the unknown and the untried, Patricia's talents and interests were numerous and multi-faceted. 

"She rode horses, earned her pilot's license, traveled abroad, and always
treated daily life as a grand adventure," the family member continued.
"She expressed an appreciation of animals and nature, championed the underdog and drew out the best in everyone." 

Patricia's family related that her final struggles with cancer were not the first time she had faced a difficult medical condition:

"Even as a young child, she survived a terrible bout with rheumatic fever. 
Her survival was a miracle and she
lived most every moment of her life as such," commented the family member. "She suffered with meaning and endured with dignity and grace.
Always a survivor, Patricia recognized in her brave battle against cancer
that suffering draws us closer to Christ
and she faithfully trusted in his blueprint.
Patricia's rare combination of intelligence, wit,
faith, and compassion will be missed.
She lived every moment of her life up until her death."

Patricia's Family
Patricia was pre-deceased by her sister, Kathy Jones McEntee, her brother, Paul Jones, Jr., her brother-in-law Robert O'Rourke, and her parents, Ann O'Leary Jones and Paul Jones.

• Patricia's Husband for 38 years
  Thomas Patrick O'Rourke
  
  
• Patricia's Children 
  Ann Marie and her husband Joseph Brasco 
  Mary Kathleen and her husband Alexander Kohn
  
  

• Patricia's  Grandchildren 
  Sonoma, Sienna and Scarlett Brasco
  
  

• Patricia's Siblings and Family 
  Elizabeth Jones McIntyre and her husband Jack Mc Intyre
  Daniel Jones and his wife Margie Jones
  William Jones and his wife Virginia Jones
  Kathy Jones, sister-in-law  
  Several nieces and nephews 
  
  

Memorial Arrangements
The memorial arrangements for Patricia Ann Jones O'Rourke are as follows:

• Wake
  Farmer Funeral Home 
  45 Roseland Avenue, Roseland

• • Thursday, Dec. 11
    4pm to 8pm
  • Friday, Dec. 12 
    4pm to 8pm 
    
    

• Mass of Christian Burial 
  Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church
  28 Livingston Avenue, Roseland 
• • Saturday, Dec. 13 
    12:30pm 
    
    

Message of Condolence  
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Farmer Funeral Home of Roseland. Notes of sympathy to the family may be written online here.  

Memorial Donations
In lieu of flowers, donations to Covenant House would be greatly appreciated. 

• Covenant House
  460 W 41st St
  New York, NY 10036
  
  
• Donations may be made online Here 

According to her family, Patricia's favorite story remained The Little Prince by 
Antoine de Saint-Exupery and she often quoted her favorite verse. 

“Goodbye," said the fox.
"And now here is my secret, a very simple secret:
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;
what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

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