Patricia Anne Keaney

To live steam the funeral mass go to www.visitationmilton.org  and click on the livestream dropdown

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St.  Elizabeth’s Church, 350 Reedsdale Road, Milton at 10:30 am Monday June 26th. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Visitation prior to the Mass at the Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home, 326 Granite Ave. Milton, MA from 9:00am to 10:00am.      Burial to follow at St Joseph’s Cemetery, West Roxbury.

Patricia Anne Keaney (“Aunt Pat”) of Milton, MA passed away peacefully at the age of 93 on June 23, 2023.  She was the daughter of the late John J. and Bridget T. (Barrett) Keaney.

Aunt Pat is survived by her loving family, including her cherished nephews and nieces, Mark F. Murphy, Esq. and the late Patricia M. Murphy, Marybeth (Murphy) and Stephen L. Pepin, Mary (Walsh) Murphy and the late Jerry Murphy, Kate (Champion) Murphy and the late Brian P. Murphy, Esq., Timothy F., John J., Patrick M., and Christopher M Keaney, Mark G. Keaney, Mary Frances (Keaney) Moore and the late Carl J. Keaney.

Devoted Great Aunt of Maura T. Murphy, Christopher S. and Kara Pepin, Erin E. and Kyle Bare, Molly K. Murphy and Joseph C. Murphy. Also survived by Great-Grand Nieces. Beloved Sister of the late Mary T. (Keaney) and Joseph G. Murphy, Esq., John J. and Margaret F. Keaney, Frank M. and Virginia M. Keaney.

Former Director of Dietetics-N.E. Deaconess Hospital. US Army Veteran.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Aunt Pat’s memory to St. Francis House, 39 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116

The “industrious” designation attributed to Pat in her high school yearbook from St Thomas High School, Jamaica Plain was most evident as an accomplished leader throughout a life-long career in health-care. The hallmark of her exceptional leadership and managerial capabilities were her unwavering professional standards and ethical compass. She received her undergraduate degree from Framingham State College and a Masters in Science-Nutrition Administration and Education from Boston University. As a registered Dietitian, she interned as a Lieutenant in the US Army at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Subsequently she became the Assistant Director-Dietetics at The Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and served in many advisory roles including at MIT in developing novel food service implementation systems and as Secretary of the American Dietetic Association.  While at the Brigham, in 1962, a highlight was providing dietetic services to King Saud of Saudi Arabia. She treasured his personal note and thank you bracelet. Pat’s career continued as Deputy Chief at the US Public Health Hospital followed by the next two decades as Director of Dietetics at the New England Deaconess Hospital where she established a post-graduate dietetic internship nationally recognized by the American Dietetic Association and implemented an entire novel food preparation and delivery system for the Joslin Clinic. 

Sadly, Pat’s career was abruptly ended in 1986 due to a profound hearing loss resulting from a slip and fall at a health care conference. Nevertheless, her intense spirit of advocacy carried on as she was assigned to the Governor’s Task Force for the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing resulting in the implementation of a state wide relay service (TTY), which in her later years was in constant use as it became her sole means of external communication. She also became the President of the Greater Boston Chapter of SHHH (Self-Help for the Hard of Hearing). 

Aunt Pat’s home at the Cape brought great joy to her extended family and friends. Pat’s intellect was truly remarkable; she had an insatiable appetite for reading and her keen mind continued throughout her final days.

The core of Pat’s being however was her unwavering faith and love for all her nieces and nephews and their respective families. Her generosity and kindness will never be forgotten. May Aunt Pat Rest in Eternal Peace.