Patrick (Pat) Convery

One of the best things that ever happened to Swedesboro was Pat getting laid off from Dupont in 1982: he became an entrepreneur and bought a gas station from his brother and turned it into a Swedesboro institution. Pat’s service station was much more than a spot for repairs and gas: Folks would stop by just to chat or share a cup of coffee with Pat. He had been a car guy since the days of his youth. A teenage Pat Convery had worked at a repair shop in Woodbury for his first job. And following that pattern he hired many a young person over the years to work at his shop: Pat shaped them into men, productive members of their communities. He was honest to a fault; for customers there was nothing more reassuring than being able to drop your car off at night at the station, drop your keys through the mail slot and know Pat would have it back up and running for a fair price the next day. But for Pat probably the most important thing was that the shop supported those around him: everyone knew that for Pat, family came first. He spent many a year following his boys around to all their sporting events, helping the teams and cheering them on. With the shop being a 7 day a week proposition (and towing being a 24-hour commitment), his free time was spent mostly at his home. He liked to click around the channels on his T.V. or spend some quality time riding on his motorcycle. For a few years he was able to escape from time to time with his family and friends out on his boat. And he was always excited to bring the extended family over for events; a master of the grill and the first to jump off the diving board with the kids. The holidays found him around the kitchen, helping with the cooking and the cleanup after.
His friendships were just as important to him: he was very much the guy that you could call for a helping hand. It could have been advice on the repair of a car, help with a home project, or helping a friend or family member with an unexpected expense. Pat was one of the best pool players in the area: he was a fixture in many of the leagues and travelled the country for tournaments, his home full of his trophies. “Take what the table offers you” was always his advice when he coached players.
He’d meet a pretty girl named Betty on a blind date. They shared a 42-year marriage blessed by sons, Brock (Jennifer) and Dirk; and later by their beautiful granddaughter, Elise. He is survived by his brother, Fran (Barbara) Convery, sister, Rita (Rick) Shuttleton and many nieces and nephews. Pat was predeceased by his sisters, Barbara Connuli, Connie Hutchinson, Jackie Fowler and Kathleen Convery and brothers, Jimmy, Billy, Robert, John, and Joey and his parents Francis and Mabell.
Come celebrate 66 great years Saturday November 12 noon to 2 p.m. at Daley Life Celebration Studio, Swedesboro, and tell a great story about Pat at the 2 p.m. Storytime service. Donations in lieu of flowers to Pat’s gofundme (https://www.gofundme.com/f/together-we-can-help-the-convery-family) will be appreciated.
Pat Died November 2, 2022 at Cooper Hospital.