Obituary of Patsy Basenese

Patsy “Pat” Basenese passed away in the comfort of his home in Landing, NJ with his loving family by his side on Thursday, April 9, 2026. He had shared 87 years of unconditional love, infectious laughter, and unforgettable memories with family and friends.

Pat was born in Netcong on a sunny day in November 1938 to the late Donata (Amendola) and Gabriel Basenese. He was the youngest of twelve children, raised in Netcong. He had fond memories with his siblings who predeceased him, Domenick, Louie, Joseph, Raffaello, Frank, Mike, Anthony, Angelo, Anna, Mary, and Angelina. Pat came from a remarkable family and went on to create an equally meaningful legacy of his own.

Pat truly broke the mold. He was a hardworking, dedicated man who always marched to the beat of his own drum. His lifelong passion for cars became his career when he owned and operated Pat’s Body Shop in the Netcong Circle for over 30 years. Even after stepping away from the shop in the 1980s, his drive never slowed—he went on to work in auto sales, deal in used cars, and even built several rental homes. He officially retired in 2016, leaving behind a lifetime of hard work and accomplishments. 

Above all, Pat was an incredible father. His children have such fond memories of growing up with him—sledding in the winter, trips to the park, riding the quads and golf cart, long car rides, and stops at 3 In 1 Deli for subs. Their childhood was filled with adventure, including life on a small farm with horses, chickens, and more—an upbringing his family will always cherish. Before his children were born, he loved taking his nephew Ralph to his cabin in Pennsylvania for hunting trips and made annual fishing trips to the Finger Lakes in New York. Later in life, he enjoyed trips to the casino, but his love for cars never faded—he could often be found at auctions, car shows, and anywhere engines were running.

Pat was a proud member of St. Michael’s Knights of Columbus Council 3665 in Netcong. He was smart, devoted, kind, generous, and strong. He cared deeply about his family and treasured every moment spent with them. To his family, he was simply the greatest, and he will be sorely missed. Although his family is saddened by his passing, they take comfort in knowing that he is now reunited in Heaven with his parents, siblings, and others that went before.

His legacy will forever live on in his adored children, Angela Basanese and Pat Basanese; their mother, Mary Lou McGrath; his caring stepson, John (Andrew Engel) McGrath; his beloved grandpups, Ivy and Tasha; and many dear nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

A celebration of Pat’s life will be held on Wednesday, April 15th, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Avenue, Denville. We invite all who knew and loved him to join us. All are welcome to join us the next day, Thursday, April 16th at 9 am at Norman Dean Home for Services to process with us past his place of business in the Netcong Circle. We also encourage you to leave a condolence or share a story here to help keep his memory alive. We will carry his love with us always.