Patrick Joseph DeCillis

Patrick Joseph DeCillis, 96, of Paducah, died peacefully June 23, 2019 after a brief stay at Parkview Nursing and Rehab.

Patrick was born Oct 2, 1922 in Rochester, NY. He graduated the University of Rochester in 1943 in 3 years with a BS in Chemical Engineering. In Sept 1943 he joined Hooker Chemical in Niagara Falls, NY where he worked on the WWII Manhattan Project. Shortly afterwards he met Doris Schaefer, a nursing student in The Army Nurses Corp program. They went dancing that night and continued dancing for the next 70 years. They married in 1947, and that year he joined Mathieson Alkali Works (now Olin Corp) and worked there until he retired 1983 as Manager of Production and Maintenance.

In 1949, they made their home on Grand Island, NY. During that time Pat was active in Scouting as a Cubmaster, Asst Scoutmaster and District Commissioner. Other volunteer activities included President of the Band Boosters, as a Loaned Executive to the United Way of Niagara County,  member of the Citizens  Review Board, Board Of Directors of the Alcoholism Council of Niagara County, The Grand Island Architectural Review Board ,  President of Olin Retirees Group, Treasurer of the Tonawanda Retired Men’s Group and prepared taxes  for the elderly under the ARRP program. From 1948 – 2013 Pat was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Tonawanda, NY where he served as a Trustee, an Elder on the Finance, Personnel and Property committees, a   Deacon as Treasurer and on   the Community Action Committee.  He spent many hours, with his wife, helping the Women's groups.

In 2013, Pat and Doris relocated to Paducah from New York to be close to their three sons who had retired there. They joined the First Presbyterian Church and until recently were regular attendees.

He is survived by his wife of almost 72 years, Doris (Schaefer), a younger sister, Dolores Harris of Miami, FL, three sons, Patrick, James and Thomas, residing in Paducah KY, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his Parents, Vincenzo and Antonetta (Pizzi), and his five older sisters, Angelina Mastrodonato, Mary Pedulla, Madylyn DeCarlo, Josephine D’Ettore and Rose Fraza.

The family extends thanks to the staff of Parkview and Pat’s Nephew James and Daryl Schafer for their many visits during his last days.

Memorial visitation will be 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday June 27, 2019 at Lindsey Funeral Home.

Lindsey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  On-line condolences may be left at www.lindseyfuneral.com