William F. Keenan

William F. Keenan, age 63, of North Bergen, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 25, 2021.

Bill was born and raised in the Totowa section of Paterson. He loved living there and he knew a lot about the city’s history. One of his favorite sites was the famous Paterson Falls. Back when Bill was young, almost all automobiles had chrome bumpers. Consequently, one of Bill’s first jobs was working for a bumper re-chromer in Paterson. He then moved on to driving cabs which led him to his most recent job he held for many years as a courier with Federal Express. This was his favorite job, and the one he was most proud of. He knew the ins-and-outs of all his routes before GPS existed and often took over-time driving the routes no one wanted to take. Bill was often known to follow the road less traveled.

Bill was truly one the most down-to-earth, unpretentious individual you could imagine knowing. He needed very little this world had to offer and enjoyed the simple things in life. Fishing was one of his most favorite pastimes. If cars could be purchased offering the “fishing pole option” that would be the car that Bill would buy. He always had a fishing pole in the back seat or trunk because he never knew when he might want to stop and wet his line in the water. He fished everywhere and especially enjoyed fishing at Wawayanda State Park at the New York and New Jersey border. It was a hobby he later passed down to his son Maxwell and it holds as Max’s fondest memory and connection to his father. Other hobbies of Bill’s included drawing, collecting rocks and antiques, Crossword puzzles, Sudoku puzzles, and mailing lottery tickets back-and-forth with his sister Rita.

Bill was very kind and extremely thoughtful. He demonstrated a caring heart for people and, taking great interest in their lives, he was known for surprising family and friends with just the perfect little gift or for touching their heart with the thoughtful words he would scribe into a greeting card for all kinds of occasions – birthdays, Christmas, or just to encourage or to say thank you.

Bill was certainly no stranger to hardship in his life. He would be the first to admit to an alcohol and drug addiction and the heartache and pain that it caused for his family and others in his life. After repeated attempts to get sober, in 2014, he was finally able to find peace and sobriety through a ministry called Transformation Life Center or “TLC” in West Park, NY. While finally winning the battle over addiction was so very welcomed, it was winning the war over the power of sin and Satan and finding eternal life through his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ that Bill considered the real victory and the greatest catalyst for sobriety. He was so grateful to TLC for their Christian Discipleship program that helped him to learn how to recover and subsequently manage a new life of hope and freedom of mind, body and soul through understanding and rebuilding his true self-identity and purpose found only in Jesus Christ.

While staying at Transformation Life Center, Bill helped them to start a thrift store – a skill he learned while living for a couple of years at the Salvation Army in Paterson. He eventually finished the program at TLC and moved to Haledon, NJ. While there, he had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman named Al Verduin while visiting New Hope Ministries in Prospect Park one day. Al and Bill hit it off beautifully! Bill started attending Al’s church – Living Word Reformed Church in North Haledon where he was growing in his faith. He was even singing in the church’s chorus. Al became Bill’s personal “Uber driver” by picking him up for Tuesday night choir rehearsals, church on Sunday morning, as well as for taking him to all his doctor appointments. Bill was so grateful for Al’s selfless service, especially for taking Bill to watch his daughter Rilee’s soccer games at DePaul High School in Wayne. One year for Christmas Bill sent Al a card in which he expressed that “every day is Christmas when you know the Lord”.

Since Bill came to sobriety, his life changed dramatically. He enjoyed his new found peace so very much. Because Bill believed that, once this life is over, the only thing that goes on is our relationships with other people, he made it one of his primary missions to do his best to repair the relationships that he so much wanted to be healthy. He did his best to love his children by owning up to his mistakes and by being the best father he could be. He so much enjoyed talking on the phone with his sister Rita and they called each other every day. They also spoke every night at 10:00 PM and were a constant source of love and affirmation for each other. Bill was really a true love! Even the homeless dogs in Paterson were important to him and he showed love to them by regularly buying them dog food. Rest in God’s everlasting, loving peace Bill!

Bill is survived by his two dear daughters and two dear sons: Madison Keenan, Rilee Keenan, Maxwell Keenan and William Latham. His dear sister Rita Bracco and husband Jimmy of Roxbury; and his niece and two nephews: Chrissie, Brian and Michael. He was predeceased by his parents: Emett Francis Keenan and Elizabeth (Daly) Keenan; his sister Bernice DeGroot; and his two nephews: Thomas and Jay.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Bill’s name are asked to consider Living Word Reformed Church, 21 Pleasant View Drive, North Haledon, NJ 07508 or The Salvation Army in Paterson, 541-545 W. Broadway, Paterson, New Jersey 07509. Click Here to Donate Online.