Mary Patricia Bolger

Mary Patricia “Pat” Bolger passed peacefully from this world on September 4, 2026. Pat was born in 1927 in Philadelphia to Martin and Honor Whalen. She was happily married to Stephen Garrett "Garry" Bolger for 62 years. Pat was a loving mother to six children, a teacher, a poet, and an active partner in Dr. Bolger’s academic life at Georgetown University and long tenure at Rosemont College. She was a role model for women who accomplish much in life, while nurturing a vibrant and loving family life.

Pat was always willing to help others. When her children were small, she was involved in an effort to find clothing for the families of out of work coal miners. The drive collected and delivered ¼ ton of clothes and shoes to Appalachia. Her neighbors added pennies and nickels in the pockets of the children’s clothes. She found her true calling teaching ESL at local universities and opened her heart and home to many foreign students as Villanova University’s Host Family Coordinator. She was a beloved “Mom” to many a lonely student.

Pat was a longtime member of AAUW (the American Association of University Women) where she held leadership positions, and raised scholarship money for women trying to finish college. She was an Associate of the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus for many years, and taught English at School of the Holy Child high school in Rosemont.

Pat was an enthusiastic watercolorist and a talented poet. Her poems, published in the US and Ireland, ranged from light hearted rhymes for her grandchildren to musings on love, loss and reflections on her deep spirituality. Pat loved dancing, and tap danced well into her 90s. Naturally, she wrote a poem about Fred Astaire.

Pat and Garry led a life full of intellectual discourse, interesting hobbies, and travel especially to their beloved Ireland. They established the Bolger Fund for Irish Studies at Rosemont College and a fund for the band at St. Joe’s Prep. Above all, Pat had a deep love of her family. She is survived by her children: Christine Ricart (Fernando), Patricia McLeod (Bud), Elizabeth Haney, Garrett Bolger (Sue), Cecilia Sheldon (Tim), and Madeleine Bolger (Andrew Duke), 17 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and her brother Edward (Ted) Whalen. She is predeceased by husband Garry Bolger and grandson Christian Haney.

Relatives and friends are invited to Pat’s Visitation from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM on Monday, September 21, 2026 at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, 31 Pennswood Road, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, followed by her Funeral Mass at 12:00 PM. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.