1927
John
2022
John Finbar Keenan
April 7, 1927 — December 26, 2022
John Finbar Keenan, 95, died peacefully at home on December 26, 2022. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Pauline Keenan; three sons: Terence Keenan (Kristan Higgins) of Durham, CT; Barry Keenan of Clifton, NJ; and Brian Keenan (Julie Clemens) of Montclair, NJ; five grandchildren: Flannery, Declan, Sophie, Desmond and Brendan; a great-grandson, Frederick; a brother, Eamon, and many nieces and nephews.
Finbar was born in Ardee, County Louth, Ireland. He served as an altar boy, after which he became a devout atheist for the rest of his life. He worked as an electrician, plumber and appliance repairman, then moved with his wife to America in 1968, where his sons were born. He worked for General Electric. Finbar was an impressive carpenter and flipped two houses, doing all the work himself. He could fix anything from a car to a leaky roof, even when his family begged him to hire someone else. His assortment of tools was the bane of his wife’s existence.
Deeply committed to an organic, holistic lifestyle, Finbar spent many hours in his wife’s garden, growing vegetables and fruit. A vegetarian for many years, he had a soft spot for all animals, especially the stray cats his sons brought home. During the last few months of his life, he was lovingly cared for by his son Barry and wife, Polly, even when he was grouchy. He never lost his love of his homeland and read the Irish Times till the end.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Donegal Donkey Sanctuary at donegaldonkeysanc.com.
Finbar was born in Ardee, County Louth, Ireland. He served as an altar boy, after which he became a devout atheist for the rest of his life. He worked as an electrician, plumber and appliance repairman, then moved with his wife to America in 1968, where his sons were born. He worked for General Electric. Finbar was an impressive carpenter and flipped two houses, doing all the work himself. He could fix anything from a car to a leaky roof, even when his family begged him to hire someone else. His assortment of tools was the bane of his wife’s existence.
Deeply committed to an organic, holistic lifestyle, Finbar spent many hours in his wife’s garden, growing vegetables and fruit. A vegetarian for many years, he had a soft spot for all animals, especially the stray cats his sons brought home. During the last few months of his life, he was lovingly cared for by his son Barry and wife, Polly, even when he was grouchy. He never lost his love of his homeland and read the Irish Times till the end.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Donegal Donkey Sanctuary at donegaldonkeysanc.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Finbar Keenan, please visit our flower store.
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