Patrick Shotwell, Sr. earned his angel wings on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 surrounded by his loving family following a long, hard-fought battle with stage IV pancreatic cancer at Hospice of The Sacred Heart, Dunmore. He was born in Avoca, December 14, 1950 and was the son of the late Thomas and Agnes (O’Malley) Shotwell.
Patrick was a member of Queen of The Apostles Parish Church, Avoca. He attended St. Mary’s Parochial School, Avoca and Pittston Area High School. Pat served in Korea with the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He worked many years with his family trucking business and in 1991 he became the owner and operator of Pat Shotwell Auto Repair, Duryea.
Pat was the perfect example of all the good things in life. He went above and beyond in everything he did including fighting cancer, but his driving force was his faith and his love for his wife, children, and grandchildren. Anyone who was blessed to know Pat would tell you that he was a hard-working, selfless, kind, honorable, fair man. He took the time to build relationships with people and often put others needs before his own.
Pat truly lived his life to the fullest, never wasting a minute of his day. He enjoyed going to work every day at his garage and then coming home to do household chores while there was still some sunlight left. He was fortunate enough to have his loving wife Deborah by his side; the two truly being a team. Pat loved golfing with his children, watching NASCAR races, tending to his garden, and sitting around a table drinking a beer with his loved ones spending precious time with family. His world stopped when he was in the presence of his grandsons. He enjoyed giving them rides on his tractor, watching them at their sporting events, and pushing them for hours at a time on a swing. He would do anything just to see a smile on their faces. He truly was the #1 Papa.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers, William and Thomas Shotwell, Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, the former Deborah Scherer Shotwell, his children Patrick and his wife Melissa of Dupont, Colleen Shotwell Dudzinski and her husband Brian of Bear Creek Twp. and Ryanne Shotwell Ziobro and her husband Ricky of Avoca; grandchildren; Brayden and Brody Shotwell, Jase Dudzinski, Colton, Crue and Cage Ziobro. Also surviving are his sister Catherine Polak, of Duryea and many nieces and nephews.
Upon learning of his diagnosis, Pat was determined to continue with life as he had always known it prior to this disease. His faith never wavered and his hope was to beat pancreatic cancer. Pat’s family vowed to continue his fight in his honor.
In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to purplestride.org. Team name is Prayers for Pat Shotwell, Sr.- Finish the Fight. Pat’s family would like to thank the eighth floor medical staff of Regional Hospital and Hospice of the Sacred Heart for their compassionate care through this difficult time.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 19, at 9:30am from Kiesinger Funeral Services, Inc., 255 McAlpine St., Duryea with a mass of Christian burial at 10:00am at Queen of The Apostles Parish Church, 715 Hawthorne St., Avoca with Fr. Phillip Sladicka officiating. Friends may call on Monday evening from 5-8pm. Interment will be held at the Marcy Cemetery, Duryea. AMVETS Honor Guard will provide military honors.