Paul J. Hennessey — Rochester

Funeral services for Paul J. Hennessey, of Rochester, will be at 11 a.m Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, with the Rev. Charlie Collins officiating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Thursday, Oct. 23, in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and also one hour prior to the service at the church.

Mr. Hennessey, 82, died Sunday, Oct 19, 2014, at Cottagewood Memory Care in Rochester.

Paul was born in Rochester on Sept. 8, 1932, to John M. and Ella (Connelly) Hennessey.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, John R.; a sister, LaVonne; and a son, Michael.

He is survived by his wife, Marie Plemling; his two daughters, Mary (Bob) Kluck of Cottage Grove and Jessica (John) Diaz of Lincoln, Neb.; his son, Nicholas of Rochester; and his six grandchildren, Michael, Bryan, Timothy, James, Sarah and Joseph Diaz; and his sister, Lorraine Rabine of Jeddo, Mich.

Paul graduated from Lourdes High School in 1951. He was energetic and a very hard worker. As a nine-year-old boy, he drove the milk truck for his dad at Pine Hill dairy. In high school, he worked as an orderly. His occupation was in sheet metal, but his main love was farming; he enjoyed his Oliver 1850 tractor. He was known for his delicious sweet corn. He raised polled Herefords, a wide variety of chickens and ducks. He planted hundreds of trees on his property, including fruit trees and berry bushes. As a result, his family enjoyed fresh strawberries, apples, raspberries and plums. He restored an old 1861 stone farm house in which he raised his family. In his later years, he renovated the silo into an apartment for his friend, Fr. Joe Keefe. When he retired, he renovated a portion of the barn into an apartment where he lived for several years. He used to joke around saying that he was a humble man because he lived in a barn. He generously used that barn for dances, retreats, youth group gatherings, and storage for a Haitian charity. He also used his land to provide garden plots for needy families. He held hay rides and had bonfires for the youth groups.

Paul had a good sense of humor, never took himself seriously, was outgoing, and sociable. He was kind, generous, he loved music and dancing, loved to volunteer, always willing to help anyone.

His faith was very important to him. He was a Eucharistic minister at Methodist Hospital for more than 30 years, he loved to visit with and pray for the sick. He was actively involved in Full Gospel Businessmen, the Rochester Christian Businessmen, and the Rochester Charismatic Prayer Group. He liked praying with and for people and was involved in the prayer room ministry. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Secular Franciscans.

When he retired, he was actively involved with Senior Citizens and loved to go dancing several times a week. He was a very good dancer; he especially loved square dancing, old time and danced every dance with energy to spare.

He valued his family history and enjoyed sharing old pictures, stories and genealogy with others.

He was a giving man, loved people and will be dearly missed.

Online condolences are welcome at mackenfuneralhome.com .