Francis J. McDonough

Mr. Francis James McDonough, 85, passed away on Friday, January 31, 2020, in Wilson Medical Center, Johnson City, NY.

The funeral will be from the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, NJ on Wednesday, February 5 at 9:00 a.m. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ. Relatives and friends are invited to visit at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m.

He was born in Jersey City, NJ and lived in Kearny before retiring to Thompson, PA, and The Villages, FL.

Francis was a graduate of St. Cecilia High School, where he was a varsity basketball player, and from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Mr. McDonough served overseas in the U.S. Army from 1954 until 1956 during the Korean Conflict.

Francis was employed by the Federal Government as an Assistant Regional Commissioner in New York City before his retirement in 1993.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Queen of Peace Council # 3428 in North Arlington.

During his retirement, Mr. McDonough was a patient transport volunteer at Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale, PA for many years.

Francis is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Patronella (nee Irving) McDonough; one daughter, Cynthia Arsenault and her husband, Steven and one son, Keith McDonough and his wife, Margaret. He cherished his granddaughters Elaine Arsenault and Caitlin, Alison, Siobhan, and Hayleigh McDonough and many wonderful nephews and nieces.

Mr. McDonough was predeceased by his son, Brian McDonough.

Francis was also predeceased by his parents, Patrick and Winifred (nee Glennon) McDonough and sister, Nora O’Neal, and brothers, James and Edward McDonough. His mother passed away while Francis was an infant. He was raised by his aunt and uncle who he called parents, James and Catherine McDonough and sister, Kathleen Reichert, and brothers, James and Frank McDonough.

He will be remembered as an avid reader and one who loved Penn State Football and March Madness.  

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