Obituary of Michael J. Potuwa

Michael J. Potuwa 51 years of Peabody died unexpectedly on Tuesday evening after being stricken at home. Mr. Potuwa was born on September 7, 1953 in Salem son of Jane M. (Kulaga) Potuwa of Peabody and the late John J. Potuwa. He was raised in Peabody and graduated from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School class of 1971. While in high school he excelled in sports and played football, baseball and hockey. Following his graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy, served as a Signal Bridge aboard the USS Dale in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic. He then remained in as a reservist and served in Rhodes Island until receiving his Honorable Discharge in 1977. Mr. Potuwa had been employed for many years as a carpenter with several North Shore Companies. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Peabody Lodge of Elks #1409 and St. Michael’ s Society in Peabody. In addition to his mother of Peabody, he is survived by a sister and her husband, Kathryn J. and Peter G. Cushing of Danvers; 2 nieces, Janice M. Cushing of Danvers and Kimberly A. Lane of Ft. Munroe VA; an uncle and 2 aunts, Fred and Anne Kulaga of Andover and Josephine Potowa of Peabody; a close friend, Doris Dabrieo of Peabody and many cousins. Pre deceased by a nephew John J. Cushing. A service will be held Sunday at 6:45 p.m. in the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 20 Church St. location, Peabody. The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial services will be private. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham MA 01701.