Obituary of Patrick J. Whalen

CHESHIRE- Patrick J. Whalen Jr., 84, passed away Sunday January 31, 2016 in the V.I.T.A.S unit of St. Mary’s Hospital. He was the loving husband of Shirley (Templeton) Whalen to whom he was married 59 years. Mr. Whalen was born March 13, 1931 in Derby, CT, son of the late Patrick J. Sr. and Regina (Morris) Whalen. Patrick attended and graduated from St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield and also earned Bachelor and Master degrees, along with a Sixth Year Certificate, in Education from S.C.S.U (New Haven State Teachers College). Mr. Whalen was an educator at various institutions during his early career before becoming a teacher at Hamden High School where he taught for 17 years. He culminated his professional career by working for the United States Department of Defense for 20 years whereupon he retired in 2007. Besides his loving wife he is survived by his son Christopher Whalen and daughter-in-law Gigi Whalen of Littleton, CO; daughter Pamela (Whalen) Zelazny and her husband Keith Zelazny of Castle Rock, CO; daughter Cynthia Braun and her husband Paul Braun of Littleton, CO; daughter Kelley Whalen of Aurora, CO; and daughter Kateri Whalen and her husband Dante Fedeli of White Plains, NY; his sister Mary Jane Simoniello of Tucson, AZ; and two grandchildren Erin Zelazny and Luke Whalen. Patrick was predeceased by his brother Francis J. Whalen. Arrangements for Mr. Whalen’s funeral will be begin 10:45 A.M, Saturday, February 6, 2016 at The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 South Main Street, 06410 and proceed to St. Thomas Becket Church, 435 North Brooksvale Rd, Cheshire, CT 06410 for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 A.M. Burial with Military Honors will follow in St. Bridget Cemetery. Calling hours will be Friday, February 5, 2016 from 5 to 8 P.M at the funeral home. Donations can be made in his honor to a charity of one’s choice.