Patricia A. “Patsy” Johnston

Patricia Ann (Galvin) “Patsy” Johnston of South Boston, formerly of Quincy, died May 25, 2023. The beloved wife of the late John P. Johnston. Loving mother of Tricia Johnston of Salem, John M. Johnston of Hanson and Michael K. Johnston of Quincy. Sister of the late Mary Greene Dwyer and Peggy Tarmey. Devoted Nana to C.J. Carroll, Hannah Rose Carroll and Jack R. Johnston. Great Nana to Lilian Rose Carroll. Patsy is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Patsy loved the sea. She used to say that feeling the sun on your face, smelling the salt air and listening to the waves on the beach could take away all your cares.  She loved watching the clamdiggers as she went to Castle Island for a hot dog—and if she happened to spot a tall ship, that just made the day more magical.  She relished wearing fabulously stylish outfits (taking secret delight if she had nabbed them for a bargain at Filene’s Basement), admiring the snazzy cars she spied en route to parties, dances, walking along Washington Street looking at the Christmas windows. She also loved cozy times at home, holding a proper cup of tea, watching a snowstorm outside as she listened to mittens hissing dry on a radiator.  If her children or grandchildren arrived, her eyes would light up and she would put on the kettle and make incomparable grilled cheese sandwiches.

She was very proud of her roots.  The color green, especially when festooned on floats or lamp posts during a St. Patrick’s Day parade, filled her with delight.  And when she reminisced, it was with joy, not melancholy.  She would smile as she regaled her family with stories about The Elms, the Cape, Old Colony, softball and bowling with childhood friends, the summers her father planted pansies, the wise words her mother passed along, and especially the magical times when she and her husband John were falling in love.  

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Thursday, June 1 from 4-8 PM in the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St., QUINCY.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 9:15 AM on Friday, June 2  prior to the Funeral Mass in Holy Trinity Parish at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Quincy at 10 AM.

Burial in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.

Donations in memory of Patsy may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital , 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.