Patrick grew up in Annapolis, Md, in a large family, he was the 10th of ten children.  After high school, he joined the Navy and served on the Nimitz Aircraft Carrier for 4 years with an Honorable Discharge.  His last year of service was when I met Patrick, when he came to visit his sister here in Houston.  I couldn't help but notice what a principled person he was, his ethics really stood out to me as exceptional.  We talked a lot about God during the first times we visited, and he eventually gave his heart to Jesus, which is what lead us to give our hearts to each other.  So within about 2 years we were married and living in Virginia.  We had such a great time there, but then decided to get out of the Navy and move to Annapolis where his brother had an electrical business and where he could also go to college.  In '87 we had a beautiful baby boy, who was the apple of our eyes.  Patrick's parents eventually moved to Houston, so we followed suit since my parents were also here.  Patrick continued working on his degree in accounting and graduated in 1992 and got a great job at Compaq Computer Corporation (HP now) and worked there for 20 years before retiring.  He received several awards while at Compaq/HP for his work in Finance.

Patrick loved sports and music and particularly loved baseball.  He was an Astro's fan but would watch any game on the TV.  He was an outstanding catcher, he was once asked to go to a Major League Farm Team by a coach in Annapolis but his best friend wasn't invited so he turned it down, he was an extremely loyal person.  Patrick and I had the pleasure of teaching our great niece to play softball last year when she was 5, Patrick taught her how to really hit that ball, by the end of the season she was laying the ball in the outfield and was the first girl to hit it in the outfield.  He also taught her how to swim like a fish and he himself loved the water. Patrick was also a great musician and was an exceptional Bass player.  He could play most any stringed instrument; he was that talented.  He also taught himself to play piano and made a CD.

Patrick was blessed to have brains and brawn.  He was extremely intelligent and had the ability to take the most complex information and put it in to layman's terms.  He would have been an outstanding teacher or professor, he basically excelled at most things he attempted.  Patrick was super organized and a fantastic decorator, he didn't like me bragging on his decorating ability, but because he was so organized, he was capable of finding the right place for everything.  And I happen to be mechanically inclined, so we worked together as a great team.  Patrick was extremely strong, I once witnessed him bend a refrigerator back into shape, I then called him my Hercules...and told him, now I know why you break everything you torque...so he then began torqueing things more gently.  Besides being an excellent Finance manager, he also had hobbies, like making beautiful furniture and playing golf.

Patrick and I were married for 38 years.  We enjoyed each other and our life together.  I am particularly happy that he had at least three years of retirement before going to be with the Lord.  He was diagnosed with a rare and grave lung disease and succumbed to it on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, called Hamman Rich Syndrome.  He died within 6 weeks of first getting sick, prior to that he was a very healthy man.  I stayed with him every day and night, hugging him, and loving on him.

I will miss him every day of the rest of my life.  What an honor it was to be married to such a wonderful, honorable man.  I will see him again in Heaven, where I know he will be waiting for me.  I will love him forever. He will always be my honey and sweetheart.

He is survived by me, Laura, his wife and his 7 siblings: Frankie Griese, Mary Ellen Kocopi, Regina O'Connor, Dale Irwin, Bobbie Moles, Sharon Heras, and Rick Irwin.

He is proceeded in death by his son Joshua Daniel Irwin, his mom and dad, Donna and Regis Irwin and his brother Michael Irwin and sister Carol Mueller.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to KSBJ Christian Radio: 89.3 KSBJ - God listens.