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302-478-7100 Wilmington & Hockessin, DE

Peter H. Haggerty

Peter was the epitome of light and love in our lives. Peter loved Christmas – the lights, the decorations, the family & friends. When he was late to arrive on Christmas Eve, a friend found him peaceful on his couch, gifts at the door, ready to join his family. His Christmas was to be celebrated with the Lord in Heaven, a sudden heart attack we presume is what altered his course. We are grateful for the precious gift of our time with Peter and so proud of the many lives he touched in profound and positive ways – that’s our Pete!

Born to Catherine (Maloney) & Nicholas “Gerry” Haggerty in September of 1952, in Brooklyn, NY – Peter’s gregarious impact began on 68th St, Bay Ridge before he and his mother moved to Goshen, NY where he found life-long friends in his classmates of John Burke Catholic HS, class of 1970. He found great joy in organizing the class reunions. Peter graduated cum laude in 1975 from SUNY Buffalo with a BA in Psychology. His early financial career included a year consulting in London. In 1983 he joined Bankers Trust/Deutsch Bank, establishing their new office in Wilmington, DE. By 1986 Peter was a Vice President and retired in November of 2018 after a successful 35-year career running their essential business infrastructure systems. Peter met Steve Pufka, the love of his life, in 2016 and celebrated their happiness together with friends, family, beaches and sunsets, every day.

Peter is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Rosemary Dowling, her husband, Jack, and niece Debbie Dowling, all of Staten Island, NY, and his beloved cousins Henry & Beth O’Brien of Goshen NY. Peter is survived by his loving partner, Steve Pufka of Wilmington & Rehoboth Beach, DE and by his loving brother & sister-in-law, Dennis & Ronnie Haggerty of New Hope, PA, and by his dear cousins Donna, Ann Marie & Denis O’Brien of San Diego, CA and by 3 adoring nieces, 2 lucky nephews as well as 11 grateful grandnieces & grandnephews.

Funeral Services

Family and friends are invited to attend visitation on Monday, January 2nd from 5-8 pm at Chandler Funeral Home (2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday, January 3rd at St. Anthony of Padua (901 N Dupont St, Wilmington, DE). Graveside services are scheduled for 1:00 pm on Thursday, January 5th at Holy Cross Cemetery (3620 Tilden Avenue, Brooklyn, NY) where his mother is interred.

In lieu of flowers contributions in Peter’s name can be made to Longwood Gardens (https://longwoodgardens.org/) or Winterthur (https://www.winterthur.org/)

A live stream of the funeral service is available on YouTube at the following link.
https://youtu.be/vBFdY_k-2hs

Condolences

    Jeanne Nardone lit a candle and writes,
    My heart is broken. I will miss you my dear friend.
    12/29/2022 12:48 pm
    Sharon Weaver lit a candle and writes,
    I will remember you always, my friend. Thanks for being a part of my life.
    12/29/2022 01:08 pm
    Lola Dalton Bess lit a candle and writes,
    I will miss my boobie (the name I called him). He was responsible for bringing me to Delaware. We retired the same day and kept in touch. I will miss him greatly. Thanks for being in my life.
    12/29/2022 01:52 pm
    Susan Rodriguez lit a candle and writes,
    Gone too soon. You will be greatly missed. May God’s perpetual light shine upon you and may you rest in peace. Amen
    12/29/2022 02:41 pm
    Maureen Lyons writes,
    Peter and I shared bank and native New Yorker backgrounds. I valued his friendship, love, and wonderful sense of humor. Many was the Christmas 🎄 Day dinner we shared with family and friends. May dear Peter rest in peace and rise in glory!
    12/29/2022 06:33 pm
    Karen Stark writes,
    My heart is broken. Peter was loved by everyone who ever had the pleasure to know Him. his smile and laughter could light up a room. He will forever be in our hearts
    12/29/2022 09:19 pm
    Frances Isola Ewing lit a candle and writes,
    Many good times at Burke Catholic High School. You were a joy to be around. RIP my dear friend and we will all be together again someday ❤️
    12/30/2022 09:34 am
    Michael Zeik & Mark Finkelstein writes,
    We will miss you Peter. You always put a smile on our face and surrounded us with your quirky but gorgeous love. Until our paths cross again, may you light up heaven with your smile. There will always be a beach chair ready for you.
    12/30/2022 09:36 am
    Alyssa Mohin writes,
    Peter was one of a kind. So good to my family. So supportive. I will miss that voice and the Brooklyn accent. I have some great stories to tell. Hope to meet up with Steve and share them. 💕😢
    12/30/2022 09:45 am
    Tim and Bill writes,
    Our hearts are broken, rest peacefully Peter. You will be greatly missed😪 Tim and Bill
    12/30/2022 10:06 am
    Kevin and Deb Luddy writes,
    Our deepest condolences to Steve Pufka and Peter's entire family.
    12/30/2022 10:50 am
    Jeana (Guido) Scalo lit a candle and writes,
    My heart is broken. Peter was always a good friend and such a wonderful friend. I was in his car going apple picking one of our Burke Reunions and he told me how no one has ever eaten in his car. In an orchard we pulled close to a tree so I could grab and bright red apple, cleaning it I took a big bite and the look on Peters face was priceless. 😵. Of course he didn’t accept a bite. Love Peter so much and will miss him always. 🙏🍎🥂
    12/30/2022 11:33 am
    Michael Young lit a candle and writes,
    The constant stream of tears I shed when I think of the memories of laughter, smiles and love of our friendship are a tribute to the person you were. Those tears express the loss I feel knowing that you are no longer in the world. I will miss hearing your voice call out “Mikey” in your “Peter Haggerty” way whenever you saw me. I will miss you always, my friend.
    12/30/2022 12:01 pm
    Scot Stetka & Jay Junos lit a candle and writes,
    We will miss your warm, friendly, always upbeat presence. Such a kind soul. Our hearts go out to Steve and the rest of the family in this time of loss.
    12/30/2022 12:31 pm
    Barbara Welsh-Rosenblum lit a candle and writes,
    Sweet Peter! I am going to miss your smile and laugh! You were a great Boss to me for 18 years! My heart is broken that I will never see you again! I have a voicemail message on my phone from you that I will cherish and listen to when I want to just hear your voice! I am saddened that your well deserved retirement was cut short! I hope you gave your Mother and Dorothy a big hug when you got to Heaven! You will be missed! I am so sorry, I will be in Gatlinberg, TN. and will miss your service; I will be thinking of you!
    12/30/2022 01:23 pm
    RAE C PERRY writes,
    Peter, you will be sorely missed by those of us whose lives you touched. Perhaps someday we'll reunite on the other side.
    12/30/2022 01:33 pm
    Carol Mingolla-Volpe lit a candle and writes,
    My love and prayers go out to Peter Steve and his family
    12/30/2022 01:55 pm
    Peggy Lind lit a candle and writes,
    There are a billion stories of this million story man who kept his finger on the pulse of all his friends and family! He was the most compassionate, loving man who shared his life with everyone...affecting us all in the most positive way. His legacy of love will live on inside us all. I am looking forward to the day when my Tears turn to Smiles! RIP, my Dearest Friend!
    12/30/2022 03:13 pm
    Debbie Mills lit a candle and writes,
    My husband Bob and I had the pleasure of meeting Peter and Steve at Tower Beach during Covid. We enjoyed our conversations with Peter on the beach such a warm and caring person. I so wish we had had more chances to get to know you better, but the time that we did was just enough to get to know the person that you were. Condolences to the family.
    12/30/2022 05:11 pm
    Bob Vasile writes,
    I will miss you Peter. You always made me smile. We always joked and called you dad because you always worried about us and would give us advice. I always appreciated that 😘 You were a true friend and I knew I could always count on you. I will miss you. ❤️💔
    12/30/2022 05:15 pm
    John Gray lit a candle and writes,
    Steve and Peter’s family I am so sorry for your loss I will always remember the fun times when going out in Philadelphia and running into Peter. He was such a great man and alway brought a smile to my face when we would hang out. We will all miss him greatly sending you all strength and love.
    12/30/2022 06:43 pm
    Cheryll Sica Barrett writes,
    Condolences to Steve and Peter’s family on his passing~ He was a wonderful man~ Prayers for his eternal peace🙏🏼
    12/30/2022 07:09 pm
    Bob Novak lit a candle and writes,
    Peter, a wonderful person and human. We became good friends at and following our 40th high school reunion. You’ll never meet a nicer, more considerate person than Peter. I’m heartbroken at his passing. And wishing comfort and good things for Steve. Gonna miss you, Pete!
    12/30/2022 08:24 pm
    Mark Cartier writes,
    Pete and I met in grammar school at St. John’s. Both our families from Bay Ridge. We spent a year at Burke together as well before family circumstances made me change schools. We reconnected awhile back through social media and email. Just a wonderful funny man who I will truly miss and plan on seeing again at some point. Condolences to Steve, all of Pete’s family and the O’Briens.
    12/30/2022 08:48 pm
    Terry Hays-Sapp writes,
    God only takes the best and he has claimed another angel. Know that you will meet again. Times will be challenging but dwell on all the fond memories and know that he will always be around each of you , you just need to watch for the signs. Sending healing angels your way.
    12/30/2022 11:01 pm
    Rose Volaski lit a candle and writes,
    Although Peter & I were not friends in high school, I certainly became a big fan at our reunions! Peter worked so passionately on uniting our Burke, class of ‘70! His joy and enthusiasm on seeing old friends and making new ones was so sincere, it simply became easy to call him Friend! ❤️ We are all heartbroken! My condolences to his family and to Steve! I hope you see his smile in every sunset!
    12/31/2022 12:34 pm
    Diane Mancino lit a candle and writes,
    I met Peter when he was a HS student and busboy and I was a waitress (working my way through nursing school in Middletown) at the new Holiday Inn in Goshen, NY. Then we were neighbors in Buffalo at SUNY UB. Kept in touch and dined together occasionally in Astoria where I live and Brooklyn where I work. Such wonderful memories. Compassionate, thoughtful, funny and filled with love for Steve, family and a wide circle of old and new friends. I'll say goodbye at the cemetary in Brooklyn on Thursday. RIP. Diane
    12/31/2022 03:59 pm
    John Connelly lit a candle and writes,
    I am blessed and grateful for the time working with Peter. His experience, knowledge, and dedication to helping others in a cheerful way has always made work go a little easier and a model to emulate. Congratulations on all your accomplishments my friend- God Speed.
    12/31/2022 06:26 pm
    Nancy Pufka and Ron Jones lit a candle and writes,
    Our deepest sympathy to cousin Steve and Peter's family. May he Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Nancy and Ron
    01/01/2023 02:13 pm
    David Lipscomb lit a candle and writes,
    Peter, "Papi" as I would often call you. We had so many adventures together over the years. A kind heart, wanted the best for everyone. Supportive, encouraging, adviser. We had more adventures planned but it was time for you to go. I miss you so much! My BFF. Love you.
    01/01/2023 05:59 pm
    John Roberts lit a candle and writes,
    Steve, I know Peter made you immensely happy. We are all here for you, during such a tragic time. Praying all good thoughts... John
    01/02/2023 07:44 am
    Lynda Farrell lit a candle and writes,
    Peter was a once in a life time kind of friend. He was kind, loving, thoughtful, sweet, intuitive and spot on honest - even when I needed advice & his input hard to hear, but what I needed to hear. That is a true friend. Regardless of how long between talking, it was like yesterday. His Facebook posts kept me laughing and thinking - always. Peter brought another dear friend, Steve Pufka, into our lives; another gift from Peter we will always cherish. Steve, know we are here for you - Peter, my dear friend...too soon gone, My heart aches, yet the vision of your smiling face brings me comfort and peace today.
    01/02/2023 01:00 pm
    Chad Jones lit a candle and writes,
    Peter. You will be missed. May God provide comfort to Steve, family, friends and all the lives you have touched over the years. Rest in peace my friend.
    01/02/2023 07:28 pm
    Melanie McDade lit a candle and writes,
    My deepest sympathies to Steve and Peter's family. May you find comfort during this time. Rest in Peace Peter.
    01/03/2023 07:12 am
    Tracey Weidman Burke lit a candle and writes,
    I met Peter a few times at my family members home. He and I hit it off immediately. He was such an engaging, personable person. I am sorry for his passing. However, I will cherish the fond memories I shared with him. Rest in peace. Condolences to the family.
    01/03/2023 10:57 am
    Elle Mohin writes,
    I’m so heartbroken over the sudden loss of my Uncle Peter. Not only was he so kind to me as I grew up, but when my father (his close friend) passed, he was there for my family and supported me during my own cancer battle. I hope he is in heaven catching up with my dad now. We love you Peter and Steve. My condolences to his family as well.
    01/03/2023 11:45 am

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