Growing up in a large Irish family comes with its own special kind of magic: built-in companionship, plenty of helping hands when it comes time to work, and enough craziness to keep it all interesting and fun.
Pat Coffey knows this well. Born the youngest of the four older children and the oldest of the four younger, she held the true middle spot in a family of seven. Laughing at the memory, she shared, “In some ways it was easier, especially at meal times. You ate what was cooked or you waited until the next meal. There were no alternate meals or sandwiches like parents do today.”
Some of her favorite childhood moments are of simply being together as a family, playing games, taking Sunday drives, and sailing the canal.
After graduating from high school in Medford, where she was born and raised, Pat’s family moved to South Boston. She worked weekdays as a secretary, and on weekends she and her siblings would often stop by the local yacht club. That’s where she met John – the cute, kind, good-humored young man who would one day become her husband.
In her lively household, Pat’s opinion wasn’t the only one that mattered. When she brought John home for dinner, her parents had a secret code: if they didn’t approve of him, the couple would be “allowed” to stay home afterward to play cards. If he passed the test, they could go out. Pat crossed her fingers that her boisterous brothers wouldn’t overwhelm John, who had grown up an only child. The boys were their usual energetic selves, but John fit right in, laughing easily and enjoying every minute. After dinner, Pat and John were encouraged to head out and have a good time!
They did, and went on to enjoy a marriage of more than 69 years, filled with fun, hard work, and deep partnership. Pat continued her secretarial work while John installed sheet metal, but soon they both left their jobs to open a contracting business together. When their children arrived, Pat balanced the business, the home, and family life.
As the business grew, she hired her replacement and devoted herself to homemaking. She became an avid gardener and knitter, and remains a voracious reader. Their family eventually grew to four children, with the youngest arriving when the oldest was already in high school. Pat recalls with a smile, “Instead of being embarrassed about the baby, my son and his friends, all those big boys, were so sweet with him.”
After retiring, Pat and John enjoyed a gentler pace. They took short trips, visited family, walked together, cooked together, biked along the canal, and returned often to the water—a place that had brought them together from the start. Those years were full of simple joys and cherished memories.
Today, Pat remains active and warmly embraces this new chapter of life. With a lovely private apartment and family close by, she continues to meet new friends who bring joy, interest, and companionship.
Please join us in welcoming Pat Coffey to Decatur House!
