Victim's Mother: 'Remember What You Gave Patrick'

Bill Ward encouraged forgiveness at his son Patrick Ward’s funeral Wednesday, just five days .

“,” Bill Ward said before about 100 friends and family members inside . “Perhaps even those who sought to harm him will hear Pat’s message, will learn from him, and over time, find redemption. This is Patrick’s purpose.”

Patrick’s mother, Kathleen Ward, thanked loved ones for treating  the same as anyone else. His blindness was caused by a medical condition and worsened over time.

“You gave him an opportunity to have a full life. You didn’t treat him like a blind man,” Kathleen Ward said. “You treated him like a man, and for that, I will be eternally grateful.”

His mother said she longed for a grandchild from , but now looked to his siblings to keep his legacy alive.

“What I want you to do is I want you to promise me this,” she said to her children.  “When you see his [personality] in your children. ... I want you to nurture that in your children so that in a real way he will live on through the next generation.”

Kathleen became emotional when she announced that administrators told her last night that Patrick, who was a 29-year-old student at the school, will be awarded his associate degree posthumously.

“You deserve it, buddy,” she said, looking at his casket while those in attendance applauded.

She also pleaded with the crowd to not let the .

“I want you to focus on what you gave him. Don’t dwell on what could’ve been, should’ve been, or would’ve been because we all thought we had a lifetime to work those things out,” she said. “Some of you shared your problems. Some of you shared your political differences. Some of you gave him hangovers. … But he enjoyed that, too.”

The Rev. C. Doug Kenney presided over the Catholic Mass. Kenney said it was clear from talking to Patrick’s family that he held no social biases.

“He was blind to prejudice. He was blind to not looking at people for who we perceive them to be, but who they really are,” Kenney said. “He could have been the most bitter person in the world because of all the things that happened to him. But he was not, and hopefully we can learn from that.”

Bill Ward said that although his son was taken sooner than expected, Patrick served his purpose.

“I would ask each of you to hold what Patrick gave you in a special place in your heart,” he said. “I think Patrick’s mission was to be our guide, our mentor and our teacher. He showed us how to live the good life.”

A candlelight vigil is scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday outside Ward's apartment in the 900 block of Redfield Road.