[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 156 (Wednesday, December 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2468-E2469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF PATRICIA A. KANE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 7, 2005

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a tremendous amount of sadness 
that I report to the House on the passing of a gentle woman whose 
strength of character served her community and the Democratic party in 
my hometown of South Buffalo, NY, with tremendous honor and 
distinction. More importantly, she was a woman of valor--a wife, 
mother, and grandmother of extraordinary stature, and someone who will 
be missed for generations to come.
  Born Patricia Ann Doyle, Pat Kane was, simply put, a legendary figure 
in Democratic politics for decades. Pat and her husband, Donald F. 
Kane--another legendary figure and mentor to many of my 
contemporaries--were part of a large extended family that, along with 
leaders like former county and State Chairman Joe Crangle and families 
like the Crottys, Dillons, Keanes, Mahoneys, Whalens and many others, 
ruled South Buffalo politics from the 1960's to well into the 1990's.
  Former House Speaker Thomas P. ``Tip'' O'Neill is often quoted as 
saying that ``politics ain't beanbag,'' and that statement goes double 
for the rough and tumble world of South Buffalo politics. Pat Kane was 
a strong leader, who was no shrinking violet; she was an integral 
player in many important races over the years, and her absence will be 
felt for many years to come. Through her gentle example and moral 
leadership, she made so many of us so much better than we otherwise 
would have been. She had the guts to say what was on her mind and the 
integrity to get away with it.
  On a more personal level, Pat Kane's graciousness and generosity 
extended beyond her family to a wide yet close circle of neighbors, 
classmates, friends and the friends of her six children, of which I was 
honored to be included. Having attended school with her son, Patrick 
Timothy, I will always hold the warmest of kind feelings and blessing 
of happy memories having been a guest in the Kane home many times. Once 
given, Pat Kane's hospitality and her genuine interest in you could 
never be forgotten. I am also proud to note that Pat Kane's eldest 
daughter, Bonnie Kane Lockwood, is a member of my district staff. 
Bonnie and I have worked together since my initial election to the 
Buffalo Common Council in 1987, and I am fortunate to have her working 
with me, because Bonnie possesses both the intellect and the political 
acumen one would expect from Don and Pat Kane's daughter, and my 
constituents and I are blessed to have her service on a daily basis.
  Pat Kane loved her family, loved her community, and loved the 
Democratic party, and her influence is seen in the many young women who 
have become active in local politics over the past several years. I am 
a better person for having known Pat Kane, and our community is better 
for her tireless service to it.
  Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, November 26, a cold and snowy morning in 
South Buffalo, Pat Kane left St. Teresa's Catholic Church on Seneca 
Street toward her final resting place.
  Before doing so, her daughter Bonnie delivered a stirring eulogy that 
was extraordinary in both its content and its delivery. With the 
House's consent, I want to close my remarks with Bonnie's words from 
the Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Patricia Ann Kane.

                    Eulogy of Patricia A. Doyle Kane

                   (By Veronica Bonnie Kane Lockwood)

       On behalf of our Dad, Don Kane--and the entire Kane Klan--I 
     want to thank Fr. Paul Seil for celebrating the new life of 
     Patricia Ann Kane this morning and for being with us as that 
     new life began. Our cousin, Fr. Paul has been with us so many 
     times before--weddings, christenings--but his finest moment 
     may have been in Room 8--ICD--8th Floor Mercy Hospital 
     Monday, Nov. 21 at 3 p.m., when, surrounded by her loving 
     family--Fr. Paul stepped to my Mother's side and helped her 
     cross over and help us to accept the cross of missing her--
     knowing she is with us always.
       We also know she is with God and--by now; my guess is God 
     has received his first hand-delivered letter from Mrs. Kane. 
     While I cannot imagine the exact contents of the letter--I am 
     confident a couple of dollars were enclosed.
       Thank you to all the Clergy here who celebrate my Mother's 
     life--my Mother was a part of your lives too. And, of course, 
     we thank the Sisters of Mercy for being such an important 
     part of my Mother's life--``Pat Kane lived Mercy, taught 
     Mercy and was Mercy''--and we thank the St. Thomas Aquinas 
     Rosary and Altar Society for providing the honor guard this 
     morning.
       Thank you Fr. Mitka for welcoming her and all the Kane's 
     back to St. Teresa's--St.

[[Page E2469]]

     Teresa's was My Dad's parish for more than 70 years--A Navaho 
     boy--he bought a four-bedroom house all the way across the 
     street on Pawnee Parkway before they were married--and St. 
     Teresa's became Mom's parish too! As with so many things in 
     our parent's lives and loves together--Mom made it her own--
     she is rightly remembered for her leadership and involvement 
     in so much of St. Teresa's history--Msgr. Toomey's Golden 
     Jubilee, the first St. Teresa's Restoration campaign--with 
     Fr. Berg--another success as we can see.
       Mom and Dad organized the hot dog concession for the Annual 
     Comeback Run and I know people came back--for Mom's 
     brownies--which she would offer with every hot dog sold! She 
     was a lecturer for many years--so standing here--where she 
     stood many times before--feels very right.
       Our family thanks all of you here today. We know you share 
     our loss--one of my great friends said ``thanks for sharing 
     your Mom with me.'' There was no choice--My Mother's life was 
     and her legacy will be about sharing. Her devotion to 
     countless classmates and neighbors, her friends and the 
     friends of her children was imbedded into her very being--it 
     was not what she did--it was who she was!
       She gave of herself--listening, organizing, collecting for 
     a worthy cause, her talents--singing Danny Boy--always a 
     favorite, fashion show commentating, the wearing of the hats, 
     the baking of the brownies, the donating of the dollars--(in 
     fact, we realize our true inheritance is all the good she 
     did--because her money went to so many of you here today--a 
     dollar here, five dollars there--that really adds up, you 
     know).
       She gave her heart--when she had her heart attack in 1994--
     her grandson, James--just a little guy then--said--Gram's 
     heart hurts--because she loves too much--and now, all of our 
     hearts hurt because we loved her so much.
       And we have to hurt--but we also must give thanks! If that 
     fact escaped any of our attention--it was Thanksgiving Day 
     when the Buffalo News printed her beautiful picture and life 
     story.
       We give thanks for Patricia Doyle born almost 76 years ago 
     to Mike and Gert Doyle of South Park Avenue. At 14, her world 
     would be forever changed by the death of her father--she 
     would have go to work at Cecil's dress shop every day after 
     class at her beloved Mt. Mercy Academy to help make ends 
     meet--and dreams of college and a teaching career were ended.
       Her life was not to be an easy one--but she made it easy 
     for all of us. She was not a teacher by trade--but our 
     greatest teacher by example--she became a legal secretary 
     where many a Judge and co-worker told us--they worked for 
     Mrs. Kane. She would always say the greatest gift you can 
     give your child is to teach them empathy--understanding the 
     feeling of others--and oh, how she understood.
       We give thanks for Patricia Doyle whose goodness and beauty 
     caught the eye and heart of a young man named Donald F. 
     Kane--56 years ago--husband and wife for 52 years--wonderful 
     parents and best friends whose mutual respect for each other 
     made them even more successful as individuals. We strive to 
     be better husbands and wives, better parents and friends--
     better at whatever we do in the workplace--because of their 
     example.
       We give thanks for the best Mother and Mother-in-Law, 
     making us each feel special as individuals but showing us 
     nothing is more important than family. Mom to six, Mother-in-
     Law to five, Grandma Kano to 14, Sis to two brothers whom she 
     loved so much, a Sister-in-Law who became a good friend and 
     confidant, a Cousin who became an older sister, Aunt Pat to 
     many and `Chubby Cheeks' to some.
       Our Mother always said, ``Make a Difference in this 
     World.'' And we give thanks for the difference she made in 
     all of our lives.
       We give thanks to a woman ahead of her time who was always 
     a lady--a politically savvy partner with my Dad--a 
     politically active person on her own--she knew who she was 
     and what she stood for, stayed loyal when it would have been 
     easier to bend, a truth teller--even when we on the receiving 
     end did not always ask for it or want to hear it when it was 
     given--She never had a driver's license--but how she drove 
     us all to be better than we otherwise would have been--A 
     special friend said--``she had the guts to say whatever 
     was on her mind and the integrity to get away with it.''
       We give thanks for her words--left to us to read, remember, 
     treasure and share. Before there was E-Mail there was ``Mom-
     mail!'' Can you imagine the discipline (which I do not have) 
     it took to put paper in the typewriter--with not an insert or 
     delete button in sight--and type out her thoughts to you 
     perfectly--perhaps include an article she clipped or currency 
     for a special treat--what was better than knowing you got a 
     letter from Mom, Grandma Kano, Aunt Pat or Mrs. Kane.
       Let me restate that--not all letters brought good news--
     some brought ``constructive criticism,'' some brought fashion 
     tips including Dr. Scholl's footpads for all of us before a 
     family wedding.
       Words were my Mother's actions and her strength. Her own 
     experiences were an endless well of hope and faith, a simple, 
     powerful reminder that you were not alone!
       We give thanks for my Mother's love of holidays--and how 
     she helped us get through our first Thanksgiving without her 
     physically present--yet her presence filled the day. We were 
     at my house--watching football, taking the kids to St. 
     Tommy's gym, making fun of me being in the kitchen--and after 
     dinner--Gramps called us together and--told the Grandkids how 
     Grandma Kano talked about what she wanted to do for them for 
     Christmas this year. And of course what she talked about 
     doing--she did--and so--
       Gramps called each of them by name and gave them an 
     envelope from Grandma. Tears and thanks were followed by lots 
     of stories and reading from a few of her letters--it is only 
     right to leave you with the words of Patricia Kane--I will 
     read the words but it is her voice I know that you will hear.
       ``Keep doing what you think is right and realize that not 
     everyone will agree with you. Put a smile on your face--even 
     in the darkest of days, you found Mom with a smile throughout 
     her whole life. Smiles make everyone feel good--yourself and 
     the one to whom the smile is given. God Bless You--keep your 
     head high and your mind ever working and your spirit with 
     God, He will help you every step of the way--I am proof 
     positive of that statement--I love you today and always.''
       Thank You Mom--We love you today and always!

                          ____________________