Sweet, kind, gentle, loving and loyal, are simple words that only begin to, describe her. Good natured with an easy going manner, you always felt comfortable being near her. Never fully knowing her natural gift, Pat’s dry, witty sense of humor could make you laugh even in spite of yourself and sometimes in spite of herself.
I first met Pat in 1980 when she was transferred over as our new supervisor. Hard working, humorous and fair, it didn’t long before she won over the entire office. Pat became so well liked that we all argued with one another just to work with her. There was never a shortage of volunteers for work on Saturdays if Pat was managing that day. She would later say that these were some of the best times she ever had.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, she had spent the last 23 years in Rockland County and by 1999, we had moved into our first new home, a house that Pat fell in love with when first walking through the front door. She especially enjoyed the spring and summer seasons when deer roamed the backyard and ate the grass as we sat and watched from the deck. Pat was always happiest at home whether relaxing or entertaining our good friends and family. I wish we could have had more time together in this house, though I know she is forever imprinted here.
A caring and loving sister, aunt, godmother, niece, partner and friend, Pat was devoted to all those she loved. After the passing of her mother and concerned for her last maternal aunt, Pat began a lovely routine of visiting her once a month on a Saturday. She would drive to Greenpoint, Brooklyn pickup aunt Gertie, take her out for lunch, and then they spent the afternoon chatting and catching up on the latest news.
Every spring she rooted for her favorite team, the Mets, and every fall she grumbled at how they managed to screw things up again. Liberty fans, both Pat and her best friend, Phyllis would go to the games and cheer until their voices became hoarse from the wear and tear.
Pat was a rare and special person in many, many ways. We were all very fortunate to have known and loved her and to have her love returned in kind. She will never be far from our thoughts and will always stay in our hearts.
May God rest your beautiful soul.
I will love you forever,
Margaret
Margeret Cruz 5/13/02
Family Tribute
Pat was my only sister. There was a large difference in our ages. When Pat was growing up she was closer in age to my daughters, so she grew up more as a sister to them than as an aunt. As Pat grew older, she became my friend as well as my sister.
Pat was a loving, kind, generous and loyal person. When Pat made a friend, she kept that friend for life.
She was especially generous with the time she spent with her elderly aunt and her young nieces and nephews. When Pat was in their company she always found time to listen to them or play games with the young ones, especially her goddaughter, Morgan. Whenever the family is together, first come the tears of sorrow and loss, but then the smiles and laughter take over as we remember something funny Pat has said or done.
Wherever we are, Pat’s spirit is there with us. She will always be missed and in the hearts of her family and friends forever.
Her Loving Brother,
James McAneney & Family
By DAVID T. WOOLEY
Friends, family members and colleagues of Patricia McAneney who had been holding out hope for her survival gathered at Sts. Anthony and Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, yesterday to give in to their grief and say goodbye to the Pomona woman who remains missing in the ruins of the World Trade Center.
About 200 mourners braved the high winds and driving rain to memorialize the 50-year-old who worked as a claims adjuster with Guy Carpenter, a subsidiary of the insurance firm Marsh & McLennan on the 94th floor of Tower 1.
McAneney, a Brooklyn native and Rockland resident for more than 20 years, had worked for the past 13 years with Marsh & McLennan, and was promoted six months ago.
Those who knew her well described her as honest, sincere, honorable and very funny.
"Every time I remember her, I smile," said her friend and colleague, Phyllis Libretti of Stony Point. Libretti, who also works at Guy Carpenter, grew up with McAneney in Greenpoint and traveled to work with her every day.
Margaret Cruz, McAneney's lifetime friend, described a woman who was gentle, kind, communicative, "extremely sensitive to other people's emotions" and devoted to her loved ones.
The officiating priest encouraged the grieving attendees to take courage in the knowledge that their loved one was forever in the hands of God.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled," said the Rev. Robert Czok.
But, acknowledging the difficulty of his words, he told them that God had not deserted them, and urged them to remain close to their faith and to each other.
He also told them that even as they struggled with their anger and pain, God would bring them comfort and "the peace for which your hearts are aching."
"It is indeed difficult to come to terms with the tragic departure of our sister," Czok said, especially when, like thousands of other grieving families, "you cannot satisfy your yearning to see or touch her beloved remains."
Alice McAneney, her godmother, remembers standing in Sts. Anthony and Alphonsus 50 years ago to baptize her infant godchild.
"I was excited," she said. "I didn't have any children at the time … she was the sweetest little girl you might meet."
She proudly held out a faded black and white photograph of that day, which showed her smiling and holding the young Patricia McAneney in her arms.
Cruz said she is coping with her loss by holding on to her faith.
"I think right now that's the only thing that's holding me up," she said.
But she is still holding out hope for a miracle.
"It just seems to me that there's still an opportunity … it's not over," she said.
"I would actually like to see her as … a miracle survivor. If anyone deserves it, I think it's Pat.
Patricia McAneney: Like a Firefighter
As a little girl, Patricia McAneney was rarely without her toy fireman's hat. She grew up honest and conscientious, embodying the firefighter ideal. Ms. McAneney never joined the Fire Department, but her strong principles brought loyalty from friends and admiration from co-workers. She was the fire marshal of her floor of 1 World Trade Center, where she worked for the insurance company Guy Carpenter.
"If one of us committed a crime, Pat would be the last person we could go to because she would turn you in," said Margaret Cruz, who shared a home with Ms. McAneney for nearly 20 years. Ms. McAneney's droll sense of humor shined through when Ms. Cruz teased her about this. "She said she might give me a few hours' head start," Ms. Cruz said.
Phyllis Libretti, a friend since childhood, cherishes a plaque given to her by Ms. McAneney. It says:
The reason why we're such good friends/ is very plain to see
I understand the things you do/you have respect for me
No complicated folks are we/no striving to be clever
Yes, friends may come and friends may go/but we'll be friends forever.
Copyright (c) 2001 by The New York Times Co.
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