Obituary of Patricia A. Conroy

Patricia A. Conroy Olean, NY Patricia A. Conroy, of 3121 Cranberry Rd., beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and habitual gardener, passed away suddenly on Saturday (June 26, 2021) in Buffalo General Hospital from complications due to a stroke. Deeply devoted to her faith, family and anything Irish, Pat leaves behind 6 children Brian (Madonna) Conroy of Charlotte, NC, Kathleen (Richard) Ingalls of Madison, OH, Casey (Jo) Conroy of York, PA, Michael (Nichole) Conroy of Allegany, Christopher (Danielle Binder) Conroy of Rochester and Dan Conroy of Sylva, NC; 9 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Born May 25, 1939 in Buffalo, she was the daughter of Howard J. and Alice Fitzmaurice Gleason. On April 11, 1964 in Buffalo she married Robert C. Conroy who predeceased her January 4, 2003. Pat received her Bachelor of Science degree from D’Youville College in 1961 and began working there as Director of Admissions. After moving to this area, she worked for St. Bonaventure University as its Dean of Women/Director of Women’s off-campus residences until 1966. While raising her 6 children, she worked to earn a Masters degree in Community Counseling/Mental Health in 1980 from St. Bonaventure University. From 1980 to 1995 she was employed by Archbishop Walsh High School as Director of Guidance, and was a member of the Cattaraugus County Guidance Counselors Association. In 1997 she became Director of Camp New Horizons through the Mental Health Association in Cattaraugus County. More than a job, it was where her passion for propping up the less fortunate was best exemplified, from the organizational talents it required, to the simple hugs of encouragement she naturally offered to every camper. Upon her retirement in 2008, she was honored with the planting of a red oak tree at Camp Allegany in Allegany State Park. She served on several boards over the years, including the Archbishop Walsh Foundation Board from 2008-2012, was a past president of the Montessori School board of directors and the Lyle F. Renodin Foundation on its grant review committee. Pat was an active member of St. Bonaventure Church beginning in 1964 and took part in RCIA, Eucharistic ministry, Bonafest, parish council, and was a diocesan representative to the church for several years. She was also involved in the church’s parochial school and served as past president of the home school association, its publicity person, and was named Parent of the Year. Extremely dear to her heart was her membership in the Enchanted Mountain Garden Club where she loved working hand-in-hand with fellow members to keep the Main Street flower gardens looking beautiful in Allegany. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 2-4 & 7-9pm at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Rd. Olean. A prayer service will be held Thursday (July 1, 2021) at 9am in the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30am in St. Bonaventure Church. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Enchanted Mountain Garden Club, C/O Melissa O’Dell, 4970 Flatstone Road, Allegany, NY 14706 or to St. Bonaventure Church, 95 E. Main St., Allegany, NY 14706. Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.