John Patrick O’Byrne

March 19, 1933 - January 18, 2019

GENEVA -John Patrick (Jack) O’Byrne, 85, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 18, 2019 at Geneva General Hospital with his loving daughter, Deborah, and cousin, Mamie, by his side. Calling hours will be on Tuesday, January 22, from 4:00-7:00 pm at DeVaney-Bennett Funeral Home, 181 N. Main St., Geneva. Members of the Nester Hose Co. will meet at 6:00 p.m. for a service for their departed brother; members of Winnek Post #396 American Legion will meet at 6:15 p.m. for a services for their comrade and member of V. F. W. Post #2670 will meet at 6:30 p.m. for a service for their past commander and member. A prayer service will be at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 23, in the funeral home and a Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00 a.m. in St. Stephen’s Church. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made in Jack’s name to Nester Hose Company, 207 Genesee St., Geneva, NY 14456. Jack was born on March 19, 1933 in Geneva, NY to the late Joseph and Nancy O’Byrne. He met the love of his life, the late Irmgard (Irma) Heister O’Byrne whom he met and married while stationed in Berlin with the Army during the Korean Conflict. After his discharge, they moved back to Geneva where they enjoyed nearly 63 years of marriage. Together they raised two children. Jack retired from the City of Geneva, serving as a firetruck driver for the Hydrant Hose Company for many years. Prior to driving for the city, he drove a firetruck for the United States Army Depot in Romulus. Jack was a lifetime member of the Nester Hose Company of the Geneva Fire Department where he joined in 1951, a member of the Winnek Post #396 American Legion, and VFW Post #2670, serving as past commander. There is nothing that Jack didn’t enjoy more than a good day of fishing on Seneca Lake in his beloved boat, the “Irma O.” He spent many days on the lake with his family enjoying the beauty of the lake. Jack will be remembered as an amazing carpenter, doing the remodeling of not only his own home, but the homes of many family members. There was nothing that Jack couldn’t do! He had a zest for life and was always ready with a smile. Jack is survived by his daughter, Deborah (Duncan Oldham) O’Byrne; sister, Peggy Nagle; cousin, Mamie Higgins; goddaughters, Joanne (O’Byrne) Reed and Peggy (Nagle) Jones; and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Besides his parents and his wife, Jack was predeceased by his son Johnny; granddaughter, Emma Rose; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Heinrich and Emma Heister; brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Mary O’Byrne; sister and brothers-in law, Kaye and Neil Flynn and Paul Nagle; niece and nephew, Patti (Flynn) Seelbach and Timmy Nagle; aunt and uncle, Mollie and Joseph McDonough. Debbie is especially grateful to the special people in her and Jack’s lives, especially Joanne and Robert Reed and Maree Walczak, who have been such a support over the years.