On May 17, 2024, Patrick Joseph Scanlon passed away peacefully at home. Born on March 16, 1924, in Louisburgh, County Mayo, Ireland, Mr. Scanlon was 100 years-old. He immigrated to The Bronx in 1952 and was a devoted member of the Kingsbridge neighborhood and St. John’s parish for decades. His wife, Eileen, passed away in 2010. Mr. Scanlon is survived by several generations of family including his children Patrick, Jerome, and Noreen.
The Religious of Jesus and Mary remember Mr. Scanlon fondly because of the close connection he maintained with our congregation. The eldest daughter of Patrick and Eileen Scanlon, Mary, was professed as a member of the RJM in 1983. As Sr. Mary’s father, Patrick Scanlon has been very close to the RJM sisters in New York until his death.
The RJM have ministered in the Kingsbridge neighborhood and at St. John’s parish since the early 1900s. Thousands of young men and women have been educated by the RJM at the former St. John’s School.
Sr. Mary Scanlon passed away in 1998, too young, from cancer. Before Sr. Mary died, she had hoped to be one of the first RJM sisters to be part of the mission to Haiti that was established in 1997. Mr. and Mrs. Scanlon were so committed to the Religious of Jesus and Mary that almost immediately after the sisters of the province decided to establish the mission, Mr. Scanlon walked down his street, just behind St. John’s Church, knocked on the door of the RJM convent, and gave the sisters one of the very donation for the Haiti mission.
The photo of Mr. Scanlon with the “100” balloons was taken just a few weeks before he died when he was visited by members of the RJM community. Sr. Mary Scanlon’s memorial card with her photo was on the wall directly next to Mr. Scanlon’s chair during that visit.
In lieu of flowers, Patrick Scanlon’s family asked that donations be made to the RJM to support their ministries in Haiti. The RJM are honored to continue to be blessed by the goodness of Patrick J. Scanlon and his family, even in this time of loss.
A full obituary for Mr. Scanlon is available from Williams Funeral Home.
