Patrick Timothy O'Brien

Pat was born on November 29, 1941, in Chicago, to the late James and the late Genevieve (Kirby) O'Brien. He attended St. Viator Elementary School and graduated from St. Benedict High School in 1959. He had a happy childhood, made happier by the births of his younger brothers, Mike and Kevin. Among his favorite childhood memories were visiting Riverview Park, spending time with family, and playing with neighborhood friends.

Pat studied film at Columbia College Chicago and worked as a page at WBBM-TV, working the historic Kennedy-Nixon debate. An admirer of JFK, Pat cleverly followed the presidential hopeful into the restroom, where he told him of his and his family's great respect, even though, at 18, Pat was too young to vote. (The voting age at the time was 21.) He also participated in the CBS page walkout, which was his first but not last time organizing and picketing for workers’ rights.

Pat served in the Army in Oklahoma and Texas. While stationed at Fort Sill (Lawton, Oklahoma), Pat saw no combat but experienced a lot of living, which he later shared with Flo and the kids as his infamous

“Army Stories”—humorous morality tales he loved to tell again and again (and again).

Pat followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps and worked alongside many family members and friends as a pipe coverer and a proud member of Heat and Frost Insulators Local 17. He served as Vice

President and on the Executive Board for many years and with the Union as a whole for over 55 years. Pat was a staunch advocate for his Union brothers and sisters, supporting them by organizing and walking picket lines and striking when he felt like rights or safety were violated. On a lighter note, Pat was well-known throughout the Union for his love of Hostess Twinkies, which were always packed in his lunch.

In his younger years, Pat earned his pilot’s license and skydiving certification for solo jumps. He loved attending concerts, film festivals, and other live entertainment and social events, but his life and focus changed forever when he met the beautiful Florence Rahmer in 1967. They married in 1970, and he was a loving husband and proud and dedicated father to their children, Tim, Mandy, and Molly.

Pat enjoyed watching films, old and new, had an eclectic taste in music, and was an avid reader. He was an animal lover and always had at least one dog and supported his family’s love of all creatures great and small. He spent many vacations with family at Mackinac Island, St. Augustine, Las Vegas, Galena, and all over Wisconsin. He was a man of quiet intelligence, low-key but hilarious humor, and utmost integrity. Although he moved to the suburbs with his family, he was a Chicagoan through and through, and loved walking in his favorite neighborhoods and sharing and learning about the city’s rich history.

Pat was a devout Catholic and often turned to his faith to guide him. He always put his family before anything else, and he will be greatly missed by many. Most of all, Pat loved and adored his beautiful wife

and partner, Flo, and was blessed with an impromptu 50th anniversary vow renewal by Father Peter Gnoinski (St. Paul of the Cross) an hour before his passing.

Patrick was the beloved husband of Florence (nee Rahmer) O’Brien; loving father of Tim O’Brien, Mandy (Stephen) Carlson and Molly O’Brien; caring brother of Mike (Peter Calibraro) O’Brien and Kevin (Cindy Buckley) O’Brien. He is finally reunited with his adored and admired parents, James and Genevieve, his beloved grandmothers, Eva Kirby and Irene O'Brien, and many cherished aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends who passed away before him.

As sad as we are at our loss, we know Pat is up there reminiscing of days gone by, updating everyone with stories about all of us, and just having “a lotta laughs.” He’s also busy putting in plenty of good

words about us—that is, unless St. Peter takes offense at any of the “St. Peter at the Gate” jokes Pat laughed at and shared over the years.

Thank you, Pat, for being a wonderful husband, father, brother, and friend to so many. Our hearts ache, but we are glad you are finally at peace with the Lord.

Visitation, Monday, August 10, 2020 from 3-8pm at Oehler Funeral Home 2099 Miner St. Des Plaines, IL. Prayers will be said Tuesday at 9:15am at the funeral home and proceed to St. Stephen Catholic Church 1280 Prospect Ave. Des Plaines, IL. for funeral mass at 10am. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a favorite charity in memory of Patrick T. O’Brien.

In consideration of the safety of our guests and associates, Oehler Funeral Home will adhere to the current gathering restrictions in the state of Illinois, which allows 50 or fewer guests at services. Proper social distancing must be practiced and all guests will be required to wear facemasks at all times. Thank you for your cooperation. Funeral info 847-824-5155 or oehlerfuneralhome.com