Patricia R. Lynch

Patricia (Ann) Reilly Lynch, of Wantagh, NY, died on October 10, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. 

Pat was born on December 7, 1947 in Brooklyn, NY. She was the first born of four siblings of the late James J. and Lillian K. Heller Reilly. She was raised in Brooklyn and Wantagh, NY. Pat graduated from Queen of the Rosary Academy in North Amityville and received her Nursing Certification following studies at the State University of New York at Farmingdale. After a brief nursing stint, Pat embarked on an extended career as a manager at Pan American Airlines in its Consumer Relations Department. Pat’s work at Pan Am overlapped but remained intentionally subordinate to her work raising a growing family, and she denied that her 6-person family’s extensive use of the airline’s fringe travel benefit led to the airline’s financial downfall. Following Pan Am, Pat brought her organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills to the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, where she worked as a manager for many years before leaving to work with her husband Tom as the Office Manager for the Lynch Rowin LLP law firm. Thereafter, she was able to enjoy retirement.

Pat was also a longtime and frequent volunteer around the St. William the Abbot (Seaford) parish and school. Most notably, she ran the St. William the Abbot CYO program for the better part of two decades, stopping well after her four children had aged out of the program. During that time, St. Williams CYO grew considerably in the numbers of participants, teams fielded, and sports and recreation programs offered by the parish. Pat was consistently the champion of the underdog and the overlooked. She fervently believed that for many, the only special need was the opportunity to demonstrate what they were capable of doing.

Pat was happiest amongst all of her family and friends, and she reserved special affection for each of her 10 grandchildren. She also found enjoyment in her garden, at the beach, exploring NYC, at Windham in the Catskills, traveling, and watching sports (especially those involving her grandchildren).

Pat is survived by her husband of fifty-six years, Tom; their children and spouses (and the grandchildren) Ted and Michele of Chatham, NJ (Jamie and Cara); Brian and Kathleen of Mansfield, CT (Mary, Tommy, and Irene); Dan and Margaret of Canton, CT (Kenneth, Julianne, and Corinne); and Katie and Danny Quinn of Brightwaters, NY (Kelly and Danny). She is also survived by her brother Jim Reilly and his wife Margaret of Kenner, LA, her brother Bobby of Nashville, TN, her sister-in-law Beth of Provo, UT, and the rest of her extended Reilly and Lynch families. She was predeceased by her sister Barbara Reilly Sierra.

Viewing hours will be held at the Charles G Schmitt Funeral Home, 3863 Merrick Road, Seaford, NYfrom 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm, Friday, October 16. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:45 am at St. William the Abbot Church, 2000 Jackson Avenue, Seaford, NY on Saturday, October 17th. A private interment will be held at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to The St. William the Abbot Parish Outreach, which provides emergency assistance, food and community support services to local residents in need. The Parish Outreach offices can be reached at the 

St. William the Abbot Convent, 2020 Jackson Avenue, Seaford, NY 11783 or by calling 516-679-8532.