Patricia A. Henson

Patricia Ann Therese Kenny Henson ('Pat') of Smithtown, New York, formerly of West Hempstead, passed away peacefully on August 24, 2019 of natural causes, just a few weeks shy of her 92nd birthday. Her sons Tom and Jim along with grandson Danny were with her at the time. The third of four children, Pat was born and raised in the South Bronx to Peter and Tess Kenny. By her own admission, and too often affirmed by her children, a better athlete than cook, she grew up in the shadow of the old Yankee Stadium playing softball to the point where she drew interest to play professional baseball during the World War II era. She not only excelled on the ballfield but in the classroom as well, skipping two grades during her middle and high school years. She nonetheless went to work in the family's restaurant supply business upon graduating high school, doing so for several years until she met and married her husband of nearly fifty years Bill, a veteran of WW II and Korea. Ultimately settling in West Hempstead and St. Thomas the Apostle parish, together they raised seven children. During those years, she decided to return to school, earning her nursing degree at night. Ironically, she never pursued a nursing career but found her skills unexpectedly called upon when her husband was afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis, caring for him for more than two decades until he predeceased her in 2002. In addition to Tom and Jim, Pat is survived by her sons Bill, Mark, Peter, Paul and daughter Kathleen along with their seven spouses. Pat had 18 grandchildren and one great grandchild. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Carmen and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Feisty, irreverent, quick of wit, and never lacking an opinion or the willingness to share it, Pat Henson truly was in a league of her own. She leaves a strong family legacy and will be sorely missed.