Patrick Fales' Obituary
On Tuesday, February 2, Patrick G. Fales, loving husband, and father of four boys, died after a courageous 6.5 year battle with cancer. He was 62.
Pat was born on February 27, 1958 in Lansing, MI to the late Addison and Mary Fales. He received his undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University and was a graduate of the Mid-Michigan Police Training Academy. Following graduation, Pat was a police office in Eaton Rapids, MI. Pat left law enforcement for a career with Allstate Insurance. He retired after 30+ years of service.
Pat had his father’s patience, steadfast loyalty, musical sensibility, and gentle spirit. He was blessed with his Irish mother’s sense of humor, gift for story-telling and the innate ability to make you feel welcome. This powerful combination made Pat the ideal friend. His most enduring friendships began early in life as a boy in Lansing. These remain today having spanned 50+ years.
Pat never met a stranger and was quick with a smile and joke. He was loyal, kind, and the first to volunteer with a helping hand.
He had a passion for many things, but none was greater than his love of God. He found comfort in prayer and turned to God in thanksgiving throughout his illness. He believed cancer brought him gifts he would not otherwise have received and the greatest of these was his faith.
Pat most enjoyed being a husband and father. He was a loving partner to Aileen (Missy): slow to anger and quick to forgive. Pat cherished the time he spent as a stay at home dad for Addison and Peyton. His boys: Collin (33), Sean (31), Addison (15) and Peyton (13) were the joy of Pat’s life. He was proud of the men Collin and Sean became and equally proud of Addison and Peyton. Pat left this world knowing the younger boys would be blessed with the support and love of their older brothers. The legacy of Pat’s kind spirit, passion for faith, family, friends, and zest for life will live on through them.
If you knew Pat, you knew he was a true car guy. He had a particular fondness for Corvettes, owning 3 in his lifetime. Skybrook neighbors knew his coming and goings by the loud rumbling of his red Corvette’s exhaust. He took great pleasure in helping friends and family find the perfect car.
Pat had a lifelong love for golf. As a boy he would ride his bike to the course every day, golf bag strapped across his chest. He felt fortunate to play more golf while battling cancer than he did the previous 20 years. Pat often said playing golf was the only time he didn’t think about being a cancer guy.
Always the performer, Pat loved playing the 5 string banjo for friends, co-workers, and family. In the evenings when the weather permitted you would often find Pat on the deck or driveway strumming his favorite songs, entertaining neighbors that walked by. He also played guitar and mandolin.
Survivors include his wife, Aileen (Missy) Doyle; sons, Collin (Liz), Sean, Addison, and Peyton Fales, all of Huntersville, NC; sister Beatrice Clink (Larry) of Pittsburgh, PA; mother-in-law Patricia Doyle, of Berryville, VA; brother-in-law Paul J. Doyle II (Michelle) of Glenn Allen, VA; sisters-in-law Martha Doyle and Sunshine Doyle of Winchester, VA as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins in Ireland.
Pat was a man with unrivaled optimism and positivity. His indomitable spirit encouraged his family and friends to persist in the face of many struggles. He led by example and showed all what courage and grace look like. He will be missed, admired, and celebrated by all the lives he touched.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, February 15 at St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville, NC. Visitation will be one hour prior in the church narthex. A private inurnment will follow at Northlake Memorial Gardens. For those unable to attend in person, mass will be lived streamed at: www.stmarknc.org/livestream
James Funeral Home of Huntersville is serving the family. Flowers are welcome. Donations can be made in Pat’s honor to fightcolorectalcancer.org
Think of Pat as you listen to some of his favorite songs:
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74kyfROS4q8
Down in the River to Pray
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSif77IVQdY
I'll Fly Away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0sEv6RaHz4
What’s your fondest memory of Patrick?
What’s a lesson you learned from Patrick?
Share a story where Patrick's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Patrick you’ll never forget.
How did Patrick make you smile?