James William ‘OBie’ O’Brien
N. CHELMSFORD James William ‘OBie’ O’Brien, 80, of North Chelmsford, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at Palm Center surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband to Joan (Eno) O’Brien with whom he would have celebrated their fifty-third wedding anniversary this year.
A
son of the late William J. O’Brien and the late Jeanette (Landry)
O’Brien, he was born on May 27, 1939 in Lowell. He was raised and
educated in the city, graduating from Lowell High School, with the class
of 1957. While at Lowell High he was a member of the Lowell High School
Football Team, 'the Red Raiders'.
After graduation he joined
the United States Army Reserves and then transferred to the United
States Navy, serving aboard the USS Charles S. Sperry, where he served
for two years during the Bay of Pigs Conflict in Cuba.
Following his honorable discharge, he worked for the United States
Postal Service for over thirty years as a Clerk at the Cupples Square
Post Office prior to his retirement. He had also worked for Courier
Citizen before his military service. After his retirement, he worked as
a substitute teacher at the Greater Lowell Technical High School and at
Lowell High School and also worked as a crossing guard at the
Harrington Elementary School in Chelmsford.
OBie enjoyed
golfing and was a perpetual member of Mount Pleasant Country Club, where
he enjoyed playing 45's with his friends. He also loved watching
football, and always looked forward to watching the Super Bowl. Most of
all, he loved spending time with his family, especially with his
grandchildren. He was exceptionally proud of his grandchildren and
always was their biggest supporter on the sidelines of their sporting
events.
In addition to his loving wife, Joan, he is survived by
his daughters, Coleen DeChiara and her husband, Mark of North
Chelmsford, and Erin O’Brien of Astoria, Queens, NY; his grandchildren,
Anthony DeChiara and Sofia DeChiara both of North, Chelmsford; his
brother, Francis M. O’Brien of Acton and Florida; and also his many good
friends at Mount Pleasant.
He was also a brother of the late
Rose LaPierre, the late Marlene McCarthy, the late Janet Kelly, and the
late George O’Brien.
YOU ARE INVITED TO HIS CALLING HOURS 2
UNTIL 6 P.M. ON SUNDAY AT THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND
STREET, LOWELL 978-458-6816.
ON MONDAY MORNING, HIS FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD AT 10 A.M. AT THE FUNERAL HOME. BURIAL IN ST. JOSEPH CEMETERY.
MEMORIALS IN HIS NAME TO AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION, P.O. BOX 11454, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22312.
