Obituaries

Patrick P. Ackourey, age 55, of the Keyser Valley section of West Scranton, died unexpectedly Saturday afternoon at Regional Hospital. He is survived by his loving wife, Ann Finnerty Ackourey. The couple celebrated their 31th wedding anniversary on September 15, 2015.
Born in Scranton, he was the son of the late Paul and Jean Doris Ackourey. Patrick never lived a day without trying to increase his knowledge and learn new things. He was a graduate of Scranton Preparatory School, Class of 1978. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from the University of Scranton in 1981. He then obtained two Master’s Degrees from the University of Scranton, one in Rehabilitation Counseling and another in Human Resources Administration. Always seeking to broaden his horizons, he recently became certified as a Master Gardener by Penn State University. Patrick placed great value on education, a trait he instilled in those closest to him, especially his daughter, Megan Ackourey.
He began his professional career at Community Medical Center where he, while working in the Behavioral Health Unit, became the region’s only nationally Certified Bio-Feedback Technician. He was employed as a Counselor and a Director of children’s special education programs and adult intellectually disabled education programs for more than 25 years, initially with Concern Counseling and most recently with Friendship House and Keystone Human Services.
Patrick was a true gentlemen and a gentle man. He had a true gift that allowed him to effectively communicate with everyone, especially those who really needed someone to listen to them. Without exception, Patrick saw the value in all of us and he had a unique way of convincing those he touched of their most special qualities. When Patrick engaged you in conversation, he was the one asking most of the questions and he truly cared to hear your answers. Those who knew him best will remember him most for his kindness, empathy, quick wit and sense of humor.
He was a loving husband, father, son and uncle, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Although his life was cut tragically short, his accomplishments are many and the love he provided to his adoring family and countless friends will never be forgotten. Of Roman Catholic faith, he was a member of St. Patrick’s Parish in West Scranton. Selfless in nature, Patrick was a neighborhood advocate for numerous charities, including the American Heart Association, the Childhood Leukemia Foundation and the Melanoma Research Foundation. A gifted athlete in his youth, he was a huge fan of all sports. He especially enjoyed rooting for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Syracuse University Orangemen basketball. Long before fantasy football became popular nationwide, he was a founding member of a League and he enjoyed participating in it every football season for the past 25 years.
He is also survived by his loving daughter, Megan Ackourey of Scranton and her boyfriend Christian Owens whom Patrick considered a son; father-in-law and mother-in-law Paul and Nancy Gordon Finnerty, Scranton; sisters, Jemeille Ackourey and her husband Karl Polen of Phoenix, Arizona, JanineWetter and her husband, Attorney James of Dunmore; brothers, Attorney Peter Ackourey and his wife Christine of Ivyland, Attorney Paul Ackourey and his wife Bernadette of Dunmore; sisters-in-law, Mary Alice Browning and her husband Kevin, Scranton, Kathleen Finnerty Murray, Scranton, and Patricia Corbett and her husband Robert, Scranton; brothers-in-law, Thomas Finnerty and his wife Joann, Old Forge, Paul Finnerty and his wife Sharon, Scranton, Attorney Timothy Finnerty and his wife Bonnie, Harrisburg, and Attorney John Finnerty and his wife Melinda, Scranton; and 26 nieces and nephews, all of whom he adored. He was preceded in death by infant twins and his best friend and brother-in-law, Timothy J. “Mur” Murray.
Funeral services will begin on Thursday at 10:15AM from the Kearney Funeral Home, Inc., 125 North Main Avenue, Scranton, with an 11:00AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick’s Church, 1403 Jackson Street in Scranton. Interment will follow at the Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton.
Relatives and friends may pay their respects on Wednesday between 4-7:00PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either the American Heart Association, 613 Baltimore Drive, # 3, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 18702, or to Keystone Human Services, 124 Pine Street, Harrisburg, Pa., 17101.