Patricia Marie Finn

Patricia M. (Madden) Finn of South Boston, MA died suddenly on March 22, 2023. Pat was born in Boston on June 1, 1940, to Margaret (Flaherty) Madden and Frank Madden. She graduated from Gate of Heaven High School in 1957 where she excelled in her studies and was a proud member of the Drum and Bugle Corps. After graduation, Pat worked at the New England Telephone Company and later Boston Edison. Pat was a devoted parishioner at Gate of Heaven Church for many years where she was a member of the Gate of Heaven Guild and the Holy Name Society. Pat met her beloved John J. Finn at the Gate of Heaven Carnival in 1963. She was married for 42 years to John, who predeceased her in 2007. Pat was also a member of the Castle Island Association and enjoyed the company of her fellow C.I.A. members while traveling throughout New England. 

Pat loved opening her house for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade where her Irish bread and potato salad were enjoyed by all who stopped by. She was well known in South Boston and had a pleasant word for everyone she met. Pat considered East Fifth Street, the “best street in South Boston” with the “best neighbors.”  She loved walking at Castle Island and taking the bus into downtown Boston where she would shop at Macy’s.  She also enjoyed Copley Square, the Boston Public Library and the Prudential Mall. 

Pat’s great pride and joy were her six children and eleven grandchildren whom she encouraged and supported in their educational, work and community service endeavors.  When her children were young, she loved spending time at the ”women’s section” of the L Street Bathhouse and at the South Boston Library. She enjoyed trips with her family to the Elms and later to the Inn at East Hill Farm in New Hampshire—a tradition she continued with her grandchildren.

Together Pat and her husband John instilled in their children the importance of helping others. Throughout her life, Pat was at her best when she was advocating for others. She gave of herself constantly and was known as a resourceful friend who would connect people to services and help at Gate of Heaven, City Hall or the offices of local South Boston elected officials. 

Pat had recently moved to a senior independent living apartment in Danvers, Massachusetts where she quickly became a vital part of the community. Despite her short time there, Pat had becomewell-known and admired for her Southie “tell it like it is mentality.” She will be sorely missed there and by her East Fifth Street friends and Southie neighbors with whom she remained in regular contact. But it is her family that will feel her loss most profoundly. Pat was a wonderful mother and grandmother who will be remembered for her many examples of love, faith and selflessness. As a grandmother, Pat truly excelled, sharing with her grandchildren a deep commitment to family, a love of all things Irish and her mission to help those most in need. 

She was the devoted mother of Theresa Finn Dever and her husband Joseph of Marblehead, Patrice DePasquale and her husband Frank of Salem, John P. Finn and his wife Nora of Medford, Miriam Finn Sherman and her husband Jeffrey of Plymouth, Noreen Finn Livingston and her husband Eric of Peabody, and the late Christopher Finn.  She was the cherished grandmother of Margaret, Joseph, Eleanor, Patrick and JohnDever of Marblehead; Sofia and Genevieve DePasquale of Salem; Bridget and Shaelagh Finn of Medford; Abigail and Nathaniel Livingston of Peabody.  She is also survived by her beloved brother Francis Madden of Dennis and her niece Michelle Madden Brent of Franklin. She was also the sister-in-law and devoted friend of Eleanor Finn of Norwood. Pat’s funeral will be from the Wm. F .Spencer Funeral Home, 575 East Broadway (at H Street) SOUTH BOSTON on Monday, March 27 at 9 am. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Gate of Heaven Church at 10 a.m. All of her relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday March 26 at 2-5 pm and her interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, W. Roxbury. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Pat's memory to her favorite service organization, Julie's Family Learning Program, 133 Dorchester St., South Boston, http://www.juliesfamily.org/.