Helen "Patsy" Hussey

Helen Patricia Hussey, “Patsy” 91, of Tequesta, FL, formerly of Chicago, IL passed away on August 12, 2024. Patsy was born on September 25th, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois. She lived there for over 40 years and then moved to Palm Beach County, FL for the last 51 years.

Patsy came from a working-class family, and while attending Hyde Park High School, she entered the workforce as a Walgreens soda jerk in her teens, followed by her Morrison Hotel experience as an elevator operator, where in 1952, she met delegates from the Democratic convention. They told her about a party on the 40th floor, and she and her 2 girlfriends, Gloria and Helen "Murph", also elevator operators, snuck in and did what 20 year olds do. They had fun-a lifelong theme in Patsy Hussey's life. Stevenson lost the election. Patsy, Gloria and Helen lost their jobs.

Patsy was then employed at the Superior Match Co. And then her father, Peter J. Carey helped her get a job at the A&P Grocery Co, where he worked until he retired. Patsy was given a spot on the potato chip assembly line. If that reminds you of Lucy and Ethel at the candy factory, that sounds about right.

In 1954 by, she married and had 7 children in less than 8 years. Her 24/7 job as a wife and mother occupied her for the next 23 years. She worked intermittently as a waitress for restaurants in Chicago, and later, as a newly single woman, in Palm Beach, FL, including a few well-known hotspots; The Flame, Lord Chumley’s and the Log Cabin, a favorite of Burt Reynolds.

In 1993, Patsy switched gears when she had the privilege of taking care of her grandsons, Kevin and Patrick for the next 20 years. She was also the oral historian of the family, aka “The Grandmother Gazette”. She spread news of all our doings, as she traveled to local and distant lands to visit with her kids and her grandchildren and extended family. She believed in “family first” and was the behind-the-scenes influencer with the goal of keeping us all connected.

There was more than one visit to Ireland, specifically County Mayo, to see her cousins, the Careys of Mulranny and the Gallaghers of Achill Island. She retraced the steps of her ancestors, where her mother’s and father’s “people” once lived. She experienced firsthand what it was to have “a bit of the nature” while enjoying “a touch of the creature”. It was Patsy’s father, Peter J Carey that reminded us all, while imbibing “a touch of the creature” (which needs no explanation) that it is a “bit of the nature” that was at the core of one’s humanity, that it was natural to be a good person. She told everyone in the family to go to Ireland, that it would change their life to see where we all came from. And many did and many more will. She was proud of her Irish roots and was thrilled when 2nd cousin Kelly and her partner John bought a home in County Mayo.

Patsy was a lifelong Catholic and found peace in saying the rosary daily. In 2006 she attended Easter Mass in Vatican City, officiated by Pope Benedict XVI in Saint Peter’s Square, a highlight for her. Her home parish was St Jude’s, especially the chapel where she found immense joy and peace. She would’ve been delighted to have us all there to experience the serenity of it and we will tomorrow, in attendance of the funeral Mass.

Patsy loved playing tennis and enjoyed watching it even more. Her current crush was the #1 player, Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz is the maiden name of 2 of her daughters in law’s, Vivian and Lucila. Coincidence? Not according to Patsy.

Patsy was an avid reader, loved biographies, especially of Hollywood film stars. She loved going to the movies and eating popcorn, always buttered. She enjoyed watching old classic B&W movies on TCM. She introduced her grandkids to “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “Casablanca”, “Meet Me In St Louis”, “Gone With The Wind”, “The Sound of Music”, “The Quiet Man”, “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” and “A Streetcar Named Desire”, to name a few. The grandkids introduced her to “Breaking Bad” and “The Sopranos” and she was shocked and enthralled.

Patsy loved playing cards, to be specific, the game Rummy 500 and in the last decade, played almost weekly with her cousin, Kathleen Knight, who, she said, had “funny math”. (Just ask John Kirby, Kathleen’s eldest.) She invited anyone who dropped by to play with her and many were surprised by her card playing passion. To be clear, she was a beast.

And a list of her favorites would not be complete without mentioning libations she was fond of; she loved a well shaken Cosmos, an ice cold Miller Lite on a hot summer day, and a thick foamy top on her Guinness.

Patsy often said that her greatest achievement was her 7 kids…then as the grandkids showed up, she made a lateral move and said her greatest achievement was her 13 grandkids.

Patsy is survived by her 4 sons, Thomas, Michael (Vivian), John (Holly), Mark (Lucy), and her 3 daughters, Margaret, Patricia Hussey, Mary Helen Mulhern (Jay). (The boys always go first… it’s an Irish thing.) She is also survived by her 3 nieces, whom she helped raise, Peggy Moore (Tracy), Mary Therese “TC” Hampton and Dorothy Moore.

Now the legacy part – the grandkids, she is survived by Erin Hussey, Owen Bowden, Emily Matthews, Thomas Matthews, Michael Sean Alcaraz, Kailey Faber (Dan, great grandkids, James, Ellis and June), Ryan Hussey, Sean Hussey, Lorraine Hussey (Michael), Siobhan Hussey, Shannon Hussey, Patrick Mulhern and Kevin Mulhern. A few years back, she commandeered a family reunion at the Jupiter Waterfront Inn. She wanted the grandkids to know each other better, to bond, to be “friends for life”. It worked. They are indeed, “friends for life” and now, with her as their role model, they travel the world to see their cousins.

Last but not least, Patsy is survived by her siblings and soul mates, her sister, Margie Temple and brother, Vincent Carey. Margie’s kids, Barry, Ricky, Shawn, Carey and Coleen, and Patsy’s kids grew up together, along with their sister’s kids, the Moore’s (Peggy, TC, Joey and Dorothy) and all are “friends for life.” It’s the Carey legacy. And then, adding to the list are over a dozen 2nd cousins, the Knights, the Long’s, the Marren’s and Kraft’s… it really does take a village. It was chaos, at times, but a lot of fun.

Those that preceded her; her parents Peter and Mary Carey (formerly Kirrane), siblings Thomas, Theresa, John, Peter J ‘PJ’, and her beloved nephew, Joey Moore and by far, many more close family members and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 18, 2024 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 p.m. at Aycock Riverside Funeral Home, 1112 Military Trail, Jupiter. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 19, 2024 at 11:00 am at St Jude Catholic Church, 204 North US-Hwy 1, Tequesta. A Committal Service will follow at Riverside Memorial Park in Tequesta, followed by a luncheon at the funeral home, Aycock Riverside Funeral Home, 1112 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution in Patsy’s memory, to your local hospice.