Patrick Edward Macneil

Patrick (Pat) Edward Macneil, beloved father, husband, grandfather, and brother was called home to our Lord and Savior on July 5, 2023, following a valiant battle against pancreatic cancer. Born in Tucson, AZ on November 18, 1951, to Sidney John Macneil and Helen Irene Tucker. Pat married the love of his life, Diane, in 1981 and became “dad” to her boys Jerry and Jason Bianco. They relocated to Palm Desert, CA where their family continued to grow. Pat & Diane opened their hearts and their home, becoming foster parents to a great many children, loving each as their own. Over the years Pat and Diane adopted four children and became legal guardians for two more. There are many, many more who considered him to be “dad.”

Pat was well known locally as the manager of the Palm Desert Ace Hardware store for 40 years. Everybody seemed to know “Pat from Ace,” and there wasn’t a home improvement project he couldn’t tackle. Pat also had a passion for art, and the family treasures the many sketchbooks he filled and framed pieces he created. Especially beautiful are the pencil-drawn portraits of all his children and grandchildren hanging on the living room wall at his Palm Desert home. Even 14 months of chemo and 30 rounds of radiation couldn’t slow his love of a good dad joke (or a bad one). He was smiling and laughing at many of them through it all. His humor, optimism, spirituality, and love of family, paired with his zest for life, good food and laughter, provided him with the strength to battle for as long as he did, and these are the virtues that will live on in our memories of him.

Pat was preceded in death by the love of his life, Diane, his sister Mary Helen Connors, and brothers Robert and Doug Macneil. No doubt they are rejoicing at being reunited once again. Pat is survived by his brother James Macneil; his children Jerry (Wendy) Bianco; Jason (Stephanie) Bianco; Tonya (Robert) Jakobsen; Michael (Akiko) Macneil; Robert (Dani) Macneil; Johnny (Olivia Carillo) Harbort;, Sally Ann (Joe Banks) Macneil; and Maria Priscilla Fernandez, 9 grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held in Phoenix, AZ: Visitation and Rosary will be held at the Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, on Thursday, July 20 from 5-7 pm, and a Funeral Mass will be held at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 5045 E. Thomas Road, on Friday, July 21 at 10 am, with burial to follow at Saint Francis Catholic Cemetery.

A celebration of life will be held at the Cornerstone Church in Palm Desert, CA on August 5, at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or to the Pancreatic Cancer Network.