I’m sorry for your loss . My good friend Jim Henneberry shared the news of Jim’s passing .  My mother Cathleen Keilty Heffernan was a relative . My grandfather Jack Keilty was a Chicago policeman from saint Dorothy’s parish . He had a brother Barney Keilty. I met Pat thru my friend Jim Henneberry. He said you gave him a great send off.  Sorry I missed the wake and again my condolences to your family .

Dear Mary Anne, William, Meg, Kathleen, Mary, and Family,

As the Director of Alumni Relations Emeritus, I offer you the sympathy and prayers of the Saint Viator/Sacred Heart of Mary community, as well as my own.  Our hearts go out to you as you move forward on your journey of grief.  We pray for you as you share the stories, laugh and cry, and find ways to celebrate your husband, your father, and the love you shared.

As I read the heartfelt Tribute Wall posts, I got a glimpse of a man who whose smile, manner, and genuine kindness touched the lives of his family, friends, co-workers, and other volunteers at places like St. James and the IRM, in truly memorable ways.  The posts reminded me of a reading adapted from the Book of Sirach.

“Let us praise an illustrious man,
	faithful to his family and friends, strong in his love.
At peace in his heart and his world,
	he has left us his good name, and we recount his life of praiseworthy deeds.
A generous man his good works will never be forgotten.
Among his family and friends remains a rich inheritance born of him….
His name lives on from generation to generation.
We gather to sing his praises.
We proclaim his wisdom and love of life all our days.”

May God’s promise that life is changed, not ended, comfort you!
May the knowledge that your husband, your father, lives on in your kindness, give you peace and hope!

God bless you with the gifts you most need!
Judy

Judith Wampach Amberg             
Saint Viator High School Director of Alumni Relations Emeritus

The Harmel Family sends its condolences to the Kielty Family on the passing of Patrick (Pat), beloved Husband, Father, and Grandfather. 

We met the Kielty Family through our children who along with the Kielty children attended St James Catholic School. 

Our Family enjoyed the many backyard get-togethers hosted by Pat and Mary Anne at their home during the summer seasons. Those were happy times for all.

Pat was an ardent practitioner of his Christian Faith, often attending Mass on Sundays, twice.

He was one who quietly led by example. He touched more lives than he may have known. His passing is a loss for all who knew him.

May God Bless his immortal soul.

Not being part of the Chicagoland golf circuit, my encounters with Pat were rare. The last time I saw him was at the Christmas gathering and he put his arms around me and gave me a hug that shocked the heck out of me. The Evans Scholars program does that to people. Although we may not see each other as much as we liked, the bond will always be there. Condolences to the family. He was a great guy.

MaryAnn:  I heard the news of Pat's passing and could not believe it.  There clearly was no finer man on this planet than Pat.  So good to all of our boys and daughter  Janet.  His presentation of the Evans Scholarship to our children at Grant Community High School will always be treasured.  Not only was he a special, giving man, but I always considered him a FRIEND.  Pat, it's hard to believe that someone upstairs needed you more than we did down here.  May you forever rest in peace and may God's light shine upon you and your family.  With deepest condolences and sincere love,
Terrence and Theresa Grom

Our most sincere condolences for your loss.  Pat was so much fun at work, and my go-to for great construction advice whenever we had an especially tricky design I needed to know if it was feasible for construction or needed other ideas for how to get a project implemented.

Pat came into my office on the regular. We chatted about nothing and everything. I'm going to miss our talks. My condolences to all that k ew him.

Pat was a good man, father, friend, and Evans Scholar fraternity brother. He always had an infectious smile on his face and seemed very happy in life. He will be missed.  He was ready, able, and willing to volunteer and help out. I still remember donut Sundays at St James. After Mass the school would be selling donuts in the back of the parish center. There was always a long line, and -one morning in particular - there was Pat in an apron - who had been making donuts since early in the morning.  Always keeping busy, either working or volunteering.
Dennis Mickey

Pat was a great guy. I enjoyed trading stories with him. Had a great sense of humor. A quick witted and very bright guy. He will be missed.

I worked with Pat some 30 years ago. What a great guy, smart funny and always giving his insight to all. What an honor. He was so young, I am really surprised to hear of his passing. My deepest condolences to his family. Thank you for sharing him with us. R.I.P. Pat.

Dear Mary Anne,
      I remember Pat very well from our class of '71 at Ignatius and the few times we gathered at reunions since then.  He was a good guy, fun to be around and funny as all get out.  What a smile!  Please accept our condolences and know that my family will be praying for you and yours as well as the repose of his soul.  Take care,
            Tom Barton

I send my deepest condolences to the Kielty family on their loss.  Pat was such a good friend to the Stirk family, and I will always remember the sense of warmth and the kindness I felt from Pat during many visits to Chicago over the years visiting my brothers.  Thoughts and prayers are going out to the family from New Jersey.      David Stirk

I would like to share my deepest condolences to Mary Anne, Mike, and the whole Kielty family. 

I first met Pat as a freshman Evans Scholar in 1974 and quickly decided "I want to be that guy"; he had such a warm friendly nature and he loved to party (as did I), but he also knew how to balance fun and hard work in a very demanding curriculum. Knowing I had been an avid swimmer, and being fairly large of stature, he invited me to join his intramural water polo team...a sport I had never tried. We pretty quickly discovered that being a strong swimmer and pretty good at wrestling away balls from opponents was not enough to overcome being blind as a bat without glasses and unable to pass or catch the ball to save my life...kind of important elements of the game. We mutually agreed that continued participation was probably not in the cards. :-)

He graduated that year, but our paths continued to cross over the years, a few times at Rolling Green Country Club for the annual "Junior Memorial" event for Jeff Kallman who also left us way too soon.

My wife and I left the Chicago area twelve years ago, but not long before that I saw Pat for the last time. It was at one of the annual Haines/Kaufmann Lincoln Oaks Evans Scholar outings. Having gone through a major ankle reconstruction, and giving up golf for the most part, I was alone on the range desperately trying to find some kind of a swing while everyone else was already "warming up" in the bar. Pat walked out to say hello and witnessing my struggle offered this sage counsel "don't sweat your swing, this is a dog patch and it's a bunch of drunk caddies, not the Masters". 

That's my last memory of a great guy I wish I had gotten to spend more time with over the years. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Scott Wilson

Dear Mary Anne, Bill, Meg, Kathy, Mary and Mike. My most sincere condolences to you all at this difficult time. Pat was a gentleman and a Scholar and will be missed by all of us who were fortunate to have known him. May God  continue to bless Mary Ann and their children as He did during Pat’s time with them.

Patrick would come into our Public Works office pretty much daily during his project here in Arlington.  He always greeted us with warm smiles and kept us laughing.  He was treated to a few cups of ice cream when the machine was running and certainly a candy snack or ice cold Diet Coke.  He was truly a kind soul.   I am so sorry for your loss.  

Linda, AHPW

I remember Pat from a number of meetings of The Irish Engineers and Contractors of Chicago at the Irish Heritage Center and elsewhere. Always smiling and cheerful. Rest in Peace Pat!

John Callan

Dear Mary Anne, Bill, Meg, Kathy and Mary,
We are so sorry for your loss of a wonderful husband and father!! What sad news!!
We will always remember Pat with a smile on his face and the gift to blab about any and everything!!! What a fun guy!!!  I loved to swim with him- he would be huffing and puffing at the end of the lane and then just blast off for another 50!! Mark enjoyed working under Pat's tutelage as the "master donut maker" for St James Donut Sundays -- 4 am!!!
We are thinking of you - how hard this is for all of you! God bless you! RIP Pat!
Joan and Mark Kosiek

Patrick and I were volunteers at Illinois Railway Museum and worked on the track gang. He was a lot of fun to be around working and talking on the railroad. He will be missed.
Patrick Shea

Patrick “Pat” Kielty was a special person. Pat’s permanent smile and hearty laugh made you feel special, too.
I just played golf with Pat (along with two other special Evans Scholar Alumni - Ed Krol and John Haines) just two weeks ago at our beloved Beverly Cc.
Pat shot 89, birdied # 5 and made par on # 18.
Pat walked off Beverly Cc a “winner” on Friday, May 17th and we were “all winners” for having the privilege of knowing Pat Kielty.

Pat started volunteering at IRM over a decade ago. He worked primarily in the Track Department, and also helped with our Bunny Trolley Hop, where he was a wonderful Bunny Helper. We worked together on both Track and Events, and Pat became a treasured friend. Marcus Ruef, President, Illinois Railway Museum.

OBITUARY

Patrick Kielty

August 24, 1953 – May 31, 2024

Glueckert Funeral Home

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