PETER ‘Porky’ Patton was remembered as a man of many friends and unwavering faith at his funeral Mass on Thursday.
The Letterkenny man died suddenly at his home on Monday at the age of 57.
His death was met with shock and sadness by those who knew him. And the crowds of people that attended his wake throughout Tuesday and Wednesday was testament to that popularity.
This morning, friends and former clubmates from his beloved Bonagee United FC formed a guard of honour beside the club’s grounds at Dry Arch Park as the funeral cortege made its way from Peter’s home at Trimragh, Letterkenny for Mass at the Church of the Irish Martyrs.
It was a beautiful scene as young players and club officials offered their respects to a man who was loved by so many.
Peter worked for many years at Global Tiles in Letterkenny and there were touching scenes as former colleagues helped carried Peter’s remains past the premises as the funeral made its way to New Leck Cemetery following Mass.
Bonagee United club members and players in a guard of honour for Peter Patton outside Dry Arch Park. Photos: Brian McDaid.
Earlier, mourners at the Mass heard from Peter’s son, Shaun who offered a special tribute to his dad and told how Peter had earned the loving nickname ‘Porky’ in his school days.
His father, Shaun said, would later become known as one of the best salesmen in Donegal, during his time working at Global Tiles.
Shaun said Peter loved his work and the people and friends he met along the way, but mostly his family.
“Family was the centre of his world,” Shaun said.
Peter was married to his loving wife Anne Marie for 32 years and they were blessed with four children.
“Emma, Stefany, Lauren, and myself, or as Daddy called us, the spoilt brats.”
Peter had a strong bond with his parents, Jim and Rosemary, and called to them every evening.
“Daddy was always the man who brought everyone together, organising buses to Donegal matches and Patton parties.”
He had many friends, and many passions.
“His beloved Bonagee . . . and cards on a Friday night,” Shaun said.
“A man of routine.
“He visited Mac’s Mace every day for tea and a scone, and the Dry Arch on a Saturday.
“Above all he loved life, he brought people together and made the most of the time he had.
“He would say: “Enjoy today because you’ll be dead forever.”
The funeral of Peter Patton makes its way to the Church of the Irish Martyrs past a guard of honour close to the grounds of Bonagee United FC.
The chief celebrant, Fr Ciaran Harkin said countless people had reached out from across Donegal to sympathise with Peter’s family since his passing.
He spoke of Peter’s involvement with Bonagee and the friends he had, all of whom will remember him as a gentleman.
Fr Harkin recalled often seeing the Global Tiles van outside the chapel when Peter would drop in to light a candle and say a prayer.
“Someone said to me: “You lost a great man of prayer, there was no mumbling.
“He was a man who said them out loud,” Fr Harkin said.
“A man who fought a good fight to the end.
“The light of Peter Patton’s 57 years will continue to shine brightly.”
Peter will be deeply missed by his loving wife, Anne Marie, and family Lauren (Ethan), Shaun (Rebecca), Emma (Stephen) and Stefany, his parents Jim and Rosemary, brothers Charlie (Catherine), James (Jacqui), Mark (Francess), Damian (Annmarie), Gary (Claire) and Declan, sister Marisa (Michael), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and a wide circle of family, friends and neighbours.
