Obituary of Charles W Harrington, Sr

Charles W. Harrington, Sr., 92, left this life on Monday, December 15th. He was predeceased by his wife of 48 years Shirley (Adams). Born in Saugus, he was the son of the late John and Eva (Ouimet) Harrington. He was a graduate of Malden Catholic High School, a devout Catholic, a great dancer and an avid Red Sox fan. He was a salesman all his life. He started by selling firkin butter at Kennedy’s Butter and Egg Store and ended his career at Chicago Pneumatic selling air compressors internationally, not bad for a scrawny kid from Saugus Center. Everyone he met left with a smile and the knowledge that he appreciated every kindness no matter how small. He never hesitated to tell people he loved them, and if they were lucky - that he liked them. He changed more than his fair share of diapers, built his own home, became a Eucharistic Minister, helped migrant workers, and delivered meals to the less fortunate at holidays. He never hesitated to lend a helping hand to anyone who could use it. He had a wicked sense of humor and always had a story that would make you laugh, even if you had heard it a time or two before. He loved his wife, his family (immediate and extended), his Church, his longtime companion Rita Barry, the Red Sox and anything sweet. He was everyone’s favorite Uncle and he was lucky enough to know it. He is survived by his eight children: Charles Harrington, Jr. (Gina Banks), Kathleen Box (Howard Fried), Eva Williams (William Anderson), Maureen Shatswell, Brian Harrington, Irene Messier (Mark Messier), Shirley Harrington Gordon (Steven Gordon), and Richard Harrington. He was blessed with fourteen grandchildren: Meredith Justice (Matthew Justice), Shirley Gannon (David Gannon), Michael Harrington Granholm (Jennifer Bithell Granholm), Nathaniel Shatswell, Pamela Box Azevedo (Hugo Azevdo), Eva Cowles (Robert Cowles), Charles Harrington III, Sarah Gordon, Kaitlin Harrington, Jessica Gordon, Kimberly Messier, Sean Harrington, Britney Messier and Justin Gordon. He was further blessed with ten great-grandchildren: Veronica Hopkins, JoAnn Hopkins, Audrey Justice, Jamey Gannon, Michael Matthew Granholm, Riley Gannon, Hunter Shatswell, Cameron Gannon, Andrea Azevedo and Bianca Azevedo. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2:00 until 5:00 PM. at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn Street, Peabody. His Funeral Mass will be held on Monday at 11:00 AM at St. Adelaide’s Church, 708 Lowell Street, Peabody to which relatives and friends are invited to attend.