OBITUARY
Patricia Jane “Patty” (Moran) Cavanaugh
July 3, 1951 – June 23, 2022
Preceded in death by parents, Jane and Frank Moran; sister, Sr. Colleen Moran O.P. Patty is survived and will be lovingly remembered by her beloved twin sister, Mary Porter (Scott) of Omaha; daughters, Molly Cavanaugh (Peter Coffey) of Chicago, IL and Anne Cavanaugh (Stephen Pflaum) of Omaha; grandchildren, Declan and Mara Coffey and Conroy Pflaum; brothers, Michael Moran (Nancy) and Kevin Moran (Bobbie) of Omaha; niece, Amy Parkinson (Michael) of Granite City, IL; nephew, Joshua Livingston (Sarah); niece, Carissa Stephens (Travis) of Omaha; her extended Cavanaugh and Moran families; and all of her cherished friends.
VISITATION: Monday, June 27th from 5pm to 7pm at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 6116 Dodge St., followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm. MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Tuesday, June 28th at 10:30am, St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to: Josie Harper Hospice House www.Hospicehouseomaha.org and Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa www.sinsinawa.org.
To view live broadcasts of the Vigil Service and Mass, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “View Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
Patty lived all of her life in Omaha. She attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary School, Notre Dame High School, where she often pranked the nuns into thinking she was her twin sister Mary when her hijinks got her into trouble, and University of Nebraska Omaha. She spent her professional life in the health insurance industry. For many years she worked at Mutual of Omaha and finished her career at Blue Cross Blue Shield, retiring in 2020. In all of her positions she expertly and always compassionately and thoughtfully advised and guided her clients.
She was an active parent volunteer throughout her daughter’s education at Holy Cross Elementary, Mercy High School and Duchesne Academy. And when her daughters went off to college and then began careers she always enthusiastically supported their dreams and aspirations and celebrated their accomplishments. The role that brought her great happiness was as “Grammy” to her three grandchildren Declan, Mara and Conroy.
She was an enthusiastic supporter of many political campaigns and was always willing to help get out the vote to get her candidate elected.
Patty had many adventures traveling around the country (and Europe) with her family and friends. She took any opportunity to visit a new place, National Parks, ski slopes of Colorado, ranches of Western Nebraska and New Mexico, the beaches of California, Lake Michigan and South Carolina, and of course to be with her grandchildren in Omaha and Chicago.
Patty will be missed for so many reasons but most of all for the joy and love that she brought to family gatherings with her quick wit and camaraderie. It will be a lot less fun to wash the dishes without Patty at the sink making everyone laugh so much they forget how many dirty glasses won’t fit in the dishwasher. She always said doing dishes was the best time to get all the “gossip” from her numerous nieces and nephews.
Baking was her forte. Every festivity was even better because Auntie’s brownies or pound cake or spritz cookies were on the buffet table.
Patty was renowned for her impeccable style. She was always elegantly dressed and she loved to decorate her home for the holidays with all of her beautiful things. She also loved to share her style with others by giving the “just right” gift, or loaning the exact piece you needed to complete an outfit or tablescape.
The world has lost one of its brightest and most charming and delightful lights but those who are left have the warmest and most joyful memories to cherish.
12 Comments
Our prayers are with your family. She will always be in your hearts. May she rest in peace.
My heart aches for all of you. The world is a much sadder place without Patty in it. You’re in my prayers always.
I am heartbroken; Patty, Mary and I all worked at Goldstein Chapman’s when we were teenagers. We had so much fun — going to Lake Wakonda, the parks, just driving around. Her brother Kevin would hang with us too…we called him ‘Bugs’. They called each other ‘Porky and Weenie’. We have stayed in touch although I didn’t realize she was ill. I cried myself to sleep. My condolences to the Moran’s and the Cavanaughs….she was SO FUN. And genuine. Like Mary Poppins ‘practically perfect in every way’. She loved her girls and was to the moon with those grands.
My deepest sympathies to you and your family.What a great loss to the world. She will be missed by so many, including me. I worked with Pat at BCBSNE and what I remember most about her was her wonderful dry sense of humor.
Molly and Anne, so sorry to hear about the loss of your Mom! We always loved seeing her, usually at Thanksgiving in Chicago.
What’s written above is so true about decorating, we usually took pictures at how elegant the table was set and all her help in making a great meal that my family would continue to talk about afterwards. She was a wonderful , sweet person who we will miss. Again our condolences The Coffeys
Jim—post a couple photos of those elegant table settings please…
Our sincere condolences to the entire family for the loss of a very, very special lady.
Patty was the epitome of a gracious, loving, kind human being.
She had the innate ability to make anyone and everyone feel welcome and comfortable whenever they were in her presence.
Her beautiful mother and stellar father instilled a kind of compassion and acceptance for all in Patty. This can only be genuine in very, very special people..
Patty was a shining star that touched so many people in her almost 71 years on earth.
She is truly an angel in heaven now…all the way to the top!
Pray to her…
We will love and miss her the rest of our lives.
Tom, Karen O’Connor and family
My heart goes out to the Moran’s and all who loved Patty.
Your mom and dad and Colleen are welcoming her and sending love to you who mourn. I remember Patty as being vivacious. She made a difference in the world. You are in my prayers along with many Dominicans of Sinsinawa. Blessings, Mary T
Our prayers and thoughts are with you during this time of loss. What a beautiful spirit the world lost. May she Rest In Peace as her light shines through all she touched.
what a kind classy lady just loved her
Our prayers and thoughts are with each of you during this time of loss. I had the joy of meeting Patty in Omaha and remember her graciousness and joy.. I knew her sister, Sister Colleen. Moran, OP very well. Colleen often spoke of her family and her twin sisters. She loved all of you. I can just imagine the reunion of Colleen with Patty . Presently , I am the director of the school where Colleen spent some years teaching immigrant children at Hope Rural School in Indiantown, FL. Colleen is fondly remembered to this day by her former students,
Please be assured that the Sinsinawa Dominicans are remembering each of you in our prayers. Patty is now with the living God.
Sister Elizabeth Dunn, O.P.
I started at Blue Cross in 2018 and my desk was next to Patty. I cannot tell you how many times she left me in stitches with the things she would say, usually talking out loud to herself, and especially if she had a call transferred to her by mistake.
She was so quick!
The love for her family was very evident by the number of photos adorning her cube and she always looked like she stepped out of a catalog. Impeccably dressed, always.
My condolences.
Sign Guestbook