1929
Joseph
2017
Joseph H. O'Brien
March 19, 1929 — August 19, 2017
Biography
PRINCETON - Joseph Henry O'Brien Sr., 88, died peacefully on Aug.19,2017 at Sterling Village in Sterling. He was born in Gardner, the son of Mary and William O'Brien and lived many years in Princeton before retiring to Zephyrhills, Florida, where he and his wife Catherine spent many happy years, and made some wonderful friends. Joe moved back to Massachusetts after the passing of his wife.
He worked for many years at Fitchburg Paper Company. Over the years he also held second jobs, first on the Templeton Fire Department, then as a member of the Princeton Police Department, and he was a school bus driver in Princeton. He retired from the State Department of Environmental Management as a heavy equipment operator. He was a hard worker and a great provider for his family.
He loved to carve wooden animals with his friends in Florida. He gave these carvings to his children and grandchildren. He also loved to go fishing and to flea markets and he loved to travel with his motor home. He and Catherine would travel cross-country to visit with their seven children. They did trips from Florida to Alaska, Friday Harbor, WA., Idaho, Pennsylvania and home to Massachusetts.
Joseph was predeceased by his wife Mary Catherine in 2002. He leaves his seven children, Kathleen Packard and her husband Bob and Joseph O’Brien, Jr. and his wife Ellen, all of Princeton, Patty O’Brien of New Tripoli PA, Kevin O’Brien of Friday Harbor, WA, Dennis O’Brien and Kerry O’Brien of Bellevue, ID, and Maureen Owings and her husband Ben of Old Town, ID; his grandchildren Carrie Patria of Rindge, NH, Sara Maury of Chesapeake, VA, Mark Packard of Sterling, MA, Kelly Keefe of Tewksbury, MA, James O’Brien of Stowe VT, and Jessica and Joshua Owings of Old Town; his great-grandchildren, Melanie and Jillian Patria, Kali and Kyle Packard, Travis and Dylan Keefe, and Hank and Mary Kate O’Brien, and many nieces and nephews.
Joseph was also predeceased by his brothers Edward, Donald and William O’Brien. He leaves his brother in law Richard Rushford and his wife Jeanette of Westminster, MA, and his two sisters-in-law, Rita (Mrs. Donald) O'Brien of Baldwinsville MA, and Rita (Mrs. Edward) O’Brien of Gardner, MA.
We will all miss him very much.Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Joseph’s family from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 23, at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. A service of remembrance will be held privately at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Joseph’s name to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023.
To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit our "Guest Book" here on this page.
Calling Hours
Wednesday
August 23, 2017
,
6:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
at
Miles Funeral Home
Click for Map and Directions
PRINCETON - Joseph Henry O'Brien Sr., 88, died peacefully on Aug.19,2017 at Sterling Village in Sterling. He was born in Gardner, the son of Mary and William O'Brien and lived many years in Princeton before retiring to Zephyrhills, Florida, where he and his wife Catherine spent many happy years, and made some wonderful friends. Joe moved back to Massachusetts after the passing of his wife.
He worked for many years at Fitchburg Paper Company. Over the years he also held second jobs, first on the Templeton Fire Department, then as a member of the Princeton Police Department, and he was a school bus driver in Princeton. He retired from the State Department of Environmental Management as a heavy equipment operator. He was a hard worker and a great provider for his family.
He loved to carve wooden animals with his friends in Florida. He gave these carvings to his children and grandchildren. He also loved to go fishing and to flea markets and he loved to travel with his motor home. He and Catherine would travel cross-country to visit with their seven children. They did trips from Florida to Alaska, Friday Harbor, WA., Idaho, Pennsylvania and home to Massachusetts.
Joseph was predeceased by his wife Mary Catherine in 2002. He leaves his seven children, Kathleen Packard and her husband Bob and Joseph O’Brien, Jr. and his wife Ellen, all of Princeton, Patty O’Brien of New Tripoli PA, Kevin O’Brien of Friday Harbor, WA, Dennis O’Brien and Kerry O’Brien of Bellevue, ID, and Maureen Owings and her husband Ben of Old Town, ID; his grandchildren Carrie Patria of Rindge, NH, Sara Maury of Chesapeake, VA, Mark Packard of Sterling, MA, Kelly Keefe of Tewksbury, MA, James O’Brien of Stowe VT, and Jessica and Joshua Owings of Old Town; his great-grandchildren, Melanie and Jillian Patria, Kali and Kyle Packard, Travis and Dylan Keefe, and Hank and Mary Kate O’Brien, and many nieces and nephews.
Joseph was also predeceased by his brothers Edward, Donald and William O’Brien. He leaves his brother in law Richard Rushford and his wife Jeanette of Westminster, MA, and his two sisters-in-law, Rita (Mrs. Donald) O'Brien of Baldwinsville MA, and Rita (Mrs. Edward) O’Brien of Gardner, MA.
We will all miss him very much.Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Joseph’s family from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 23, at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. A service of remembrance will be held privately at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Joseph’s name to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023.
To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit our "Guest Book" here on this page.
Calling Hours
Wednesday
August 23, 2017
,
6:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
at
Miles Funeral Home
Click for Map and Directions
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph H. O'Brien, please visit our flower store.
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