Obituary of William C. O'Leary

William C. O’Leary PEABODY—William C. O’Leary, 87, beloved husband of Dolores (Rapacz) O’Leary of Peabody, and husband of the late Mary (Lee) O’Leary, passed away peacefully while in the comforting presence of his family on Saturday March 31, 2012 at the Rosewood Nursing & Rehab Facility in Peabody, following a long illness. Born in Somerville, he was the son of the late John and Elizabeth (Maher) O’Leary. He grew up in Somerville, and graduated from Malden Catholic High School. He lived in Somerville for nearly 60 years, and lived in Peabody almost 28 years. He was a Tower Operator, controlling the trains for the MBTA for a very much loved career. He also worked part-time for Star Market, first in Somerville then in Lynn for a 25 year period after retirement to keep active and be with people. He was a veteran of World War II, with service in the United States Navy. Bill was a member of the American Legion of Somerville and the Mass Landing Sea Transport (LST) Association and attended many of their annual reunions and conventions. He was a Little League Baseball Coach in Somerville for his sons and continued after they played, was a volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul, and was a member of the Golden Agers of Peabody. He enjoyed taking trips with that group. He loved music and played guitar. With a love of country music and square dancing, after his first wife died he met his recent wife Dolores while at a square dancing event. He was a very faithful and devoted man, and enjoyed attending Daily Mass at St. Ann’s Church in Peabody. He is survived by his wife, Dolores (Rapacz) O’Leary of Peabody, with whom he shared 28 years of marriage; two sons, Thomas O’Leary of Cambridge and James O’Leary of CA; two step-sons, James Kilcoyne of KY and Thomas Kilcoyne of Georgetown; two step-daughters, Janice Bresnahan of Haverhill and Paula Kilcoyne of Peabody; seven step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Agnes Steir of Roslindale and Therese Fehlan of FL, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death, besides his parents, by his first wife Mary (Lee), 2 sons John and William O’Leary, brothers Edward and Thomas O’Leary, and sisters Elizabeth and Josephine. A visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4 – 7 P.M. in the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather on Wednesday at 9 AM from the funeral home, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 AM in St. Ann’s Church, Peabody. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. Memorial donations may be made to the Roger Trask ADH, c/o Torigian Community Life Center, 79 Central St., Peabody, MA 01960 or to the Haven from Hunger, P.O. Box 46, Peabody, MA 01960