Kathleen Keefe
1940 - 2020

EAST MORICHES - Kathleen Margaret O'Keefe passed away on Dec. 12, 2020, peacefully at her home in East Moriches. She was 80.

Kathleen was born Jan. 29, 1940, in Olean. Her mother, Margaret Keefe, was an English teacher at Olean High School. Her father, Dr. Francis P. Keefe, was a well-known surgeon and family physician in Olean.

After graduating from Olean High School, Kathleen entered Trinity College in Washington, D.C., where she majored in English. She loved Washington, and after graduating from Trinity in 1961 she worked at the National Archives and lived in nearby Alexandria, Va. During that time she met a U.S. Navy officer, Casimir Patrick, and they married in 1962.

Kathy and Cas first lived in Washington, but then moved to Brooklyn and later to Port Washington, where they raised their family - two sons and a daughter.

Kathleen was a stay-at-home mother, but she was active in parent-teacher organizations throughout her children's school years. She also earned a master's degree in education from Long Island University and worked as a substitute teacher.

Kathleen later divorced and moved to Westhampton Beach. In the 1990s, she bought and renovated a house in the town, turning it into the independent O'Keefe's Bookstore. She loved reading, running her own business and chatting with customers about books.

Kathleen had many other interests, including gardening, bridge, listening to '50s rock-and-roll, doing various styles of needlework, painting, travel and spending time with her grandchildren.

Kathleen's Catholic faith was also important to her. She attended the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Westhampton Beach every morning at eight o'clock for as long as she could. Her favorite activity, though, was spending long summer days at the beach.

In her last years, Kathleen lived in East Moriches.

She is survived by her son, Casimir F. Patrick of Bresso, Italy; her son, Michael Patrick of East Moriches; and her daughter, Margaret Patrick of Briarcliff Manor; as well as four grandchildren, Jackson, Isabel, James and Liam; and daughter-in-law, Valentina Oriani Patrick. Kathleen was predeceased by her brother, William Keefe; but she is also survived by her brother, Dr. Daniel Keefe of Amherst; her brother, J. Christopher Keefe of Olean; her sister, Marjorie Herger of Port Allegany, Pa.; her sister-in-law, Helen Keefe (widow of William) of Warren, Pa.; and several nieces and nephews.

Kathleen was loved for her beauty, her style, her sense of humor and her passion for her family, music, art, literature and life. She will be deeply missed.