Paul Xavier Begley

Paul Xavier Begley, born July 14, 1949 in Flushing, NY, died on June 23, 2020 at the age of 70 in Boynton Beach, Florida where he resided. He courageously battled cancer for two and a half years, typically never complaining.

Paul grew up in Flushing, NY, and after graduating from Bayside High School, he worked three years with the New York Telephone Company, then entered an electrician's apprenticeship and joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union, Local 3, in New York City as an Electrician. He worked there almost ten years until he moved to Los Angeles where he expanded his work to become a General Contractor in the late 70's. He resided in L.A. for almost 30 years during which time he met his wife Christine Orlowski and married in 1989. Paul was a successful contractor, building houses in the greater Los Angeles area. He and his wife also bought and ran a restaurant together in L.A. proper for a number of years. With the downturn of the economy in 2008, Paul and Christine relocated to Port St. Lucie, Florida where his sister Clare, brother-in-law Peter, and nephew Christopher resided. In 2011, Paul and his wife moved to Bayside, NY where he chose to re-establish himself as an Electrician within Local 3, and enjoyed his work until his retirement in late 2017.

Paul loved his wife, family and life-long friends. No matter how far across the country he lived, he always maintained close relationships with all of them. Paul was a fun-loving and caring person that would literally give the shirt off his back to help those in need. On his 70 th birthday, he deferred gifts, preferring donations be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital to help children heal from the devastation he knew first hand that cancer caused.

Paul faced adversity in life with a most positive attitude and great humor. As a child, he was full of mischief, and as an adult, he lived life to the full. An "Irish Twin", born on the same date a year after his older brother John, Paul liked saying that even though he was a year younger to the day, he lived longer.

Paul was born to Catherine and John Begley as the youngest of four children. He is survived by his beloved wife Christine.  He is also survived by his sisters Clare Thomson, Carol Begley, his brother John Begley, and nephews John Paul, Christopher and Patrick.

A memorial service will be planned near his hometown to include his beloved family and life-long friends at a future date, working around the pandemic. In lieu of flowers, Paul would surely like donations to continue to help children at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Paul will be truly missed by his family and friends.