Patrick J. Keeley

Dear Family of Uncle PJ, It’s difficult to be so far apart when family loses a loved one. I pray the love you share and the love you are sent bring comfort and peace as you say good-bye to your beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, great grandfather, ... He is among the people my parents called friend and brother. We knew he would be there anytime someone needed him, and he continually demonstrated his devotion to family. In 2012, Uncle PJ swooped in with his amazing daughters, all the way to Raleigh, NC, to be with us for Aunt Marilyn’s memorial. It meant the world to us all, and we still speak of how your presence transformed our experience. PJ lives on in all of you, and it’s impossible to measure the force for good you are in the world. He was always so proud of you all. Please know that we hold you in our hearts, remembering that when we lose someone, he joins those awaiting his arrival back home to perfection. Much love, Elaine

What can I say but a pleasure to have known you. You were a great family man and a jokester. My condolences to Kathy and her family.

If I were to describe Uncle PJ in two words it would be "family man". My mom, (Marilyn Holten Frey) was his sister-in-law. Our families were close in the old Loisel Village days. Uncle PJ treated us all, emphatically, as if we were his own immediate family. Many years later, he flew to Massachusetts for my marriage. Said he wouldn't think of missing it. Later still, he brought his daughters to North Carolina, for Marilyn's funeral. Again, he said making that trip for Mom was just a given. Missing it was simply out of the question. While I didn't see much of Uncle PJ later in life as I drifted around the country, I am thankful that he has been, and always will be, a key role model of what a family man should be.

Uncle PJ was a very important part of our family, especially as we grew up in Loisel Village in the 1950s and 1960s. He made us feel welcome with his big grin, and he gave us the sense that, no matter what kind of problem arose, we could always rely on him to help.
Uncle PJ was a man of great compassion and generosity. When his wife's mother, Betty Holten, became too old and ill to live by herself, Uncle PJ didn't hesitate: he took her into his home and then made sure she received the best care possible. My mother, Marilyn Frey, often praised his special devotion to his grandson Charlie. When Marilyn died in 2013, Uncle PJ and his daughters traveled to Raleigh for her funeral -- a magnificent gesture that gave us much comfort.
We'll always remember Uncle PJ with admiration and affection.

What a guy! I met PJ 40 years ago at Bob O'Link and remember it like it was yesterday. Truly a remarkable man, gentleman and friend. Please accept my sincere condolences on his death and I hope your fond memories of PJ help you through this difficult time. RIP.