Robert C. Finnegan

Robert C. Finnegan of Wayne, much-loved husband, father, brother, and uncle passed away at the young age of 55, on Friday, April 3, 2020.

Bob grew up in Wayne, along with his parents, sister and three brothers, in their family home on 41 Brookwood Drive in Packanack Lake.

As a young boy, Bob’s family bought a plot of land just outside Burlington, Vermont and built a farmhouse. His greatest memories of those days was spending quality time with his dad, learning how to build and repair every part of a home.  Summers were spent outside, down by the creek and in the field.  Winters were for skiing and for Smugglers Notch.

Bob had an incredible work ethic.  His first job, as a young man, was working with his father and brothers at the Garden State Paper Mill. If he wasn’t at the Mill or Valet parking, he was making trouble with friends all over Packanack. After graduating from DePaul Catholic High School with the Class of 1982, Robert attended the College of Insurance in New York City. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree and went on to enjoy a career in the insurance field, working currently and for the last twelve years as an Insurance Broker VP for Risk Placement Services (RPS).

1987 would be a year that changed Bob’s life forever. It was that year, while visiting his cousins in Ireland, that he met the girl who would become his wife. Her name was Anna Lenehan, the tall, beautiful, brown eyed girl next door. Wasting no time, Bob asked her out on a date – a visit to the nearby Cliffs of Moher. They only had the chance to go out two more times before he had to return to the United States. After a few weeks of exchanging daily letters and the occasional long distance phone call, Bob had worked up the courage to ask Anna to marry him. And before they knew it, Bob was back in Ireland and on Saturday, August 27, 1988, Bob and Anna shared their wedding promises. Robert and Anna’s affection for each other remained strong for all thirty-one plus years of marriage.  During their life together, Bob and Anna had the pleasure of traveling to Europe, Mexico, and the States, but were never as happy as when they were at home together with the family.

Bob loved life and enjoyed a myriad of hobbies and pastimes. From the time he was a little kid, Bob was on skis. Winters with his parents and siblings at Smugglers’ Notch grew to include his wife and children, and the love of the mountains was passed down. Learning from his dad, Bob never turned down a challenge.  Whether building a deck out back, or rebuilding the snow blower, he took on every project with passion and confidence.  Except, maybe, the drop ceiling in the basement. Bob loved to be outside, puttering around the yard or fixing the family cars, always with his dogs by his side and his wife and kids just around the corner.

Bob loved a good joke.  He was the first to prank and loudest to laugh. There were many fun years of late night screams, cold glasses of water dumped in the shower, and hiding behind doors.  Bob was a great story-teller, and you could usually find him at the corner of a party, regaling a small crowd with the story of the man and the can of creamed corn. He was always up for a good debate, but never one to tell you you were wrong.  Unless, of course, you were wrong.

Above all else, Bob was never happier than when he was in the company of his wife and children. Loving, loyal and devoted, he was a tremendous source of joy in their lives and will be missed greatly until that time they are reunited.

Bob was the beloved husband of Anna; loving father of: Christina and her husband Brian, James and his fiancée Genevieve, Megan, and Caileigh; the youngest child of Donald and Rosemary Finnegan and dear brother of Donald Finnegan, Thomas Finnegan,  the late Rosemary Agostinho, the late James Finnegan. He is also survived by many dear nieces and nephews and many lifelong friends.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Bob’s name are asked to consider one of the following charities:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Memorial Processing

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105-9959

(Click here to donate online)

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Shriners Hospitals for Children

2900 Rocky Point Drive

Tampa, FL 33607

(Click here to donate online)

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The Salvation Army

New Jersey Division

P.O. Box 3170

Union, NJ 07083

(Click here to donate online)