Deacon James Callahan

Newton – Deacon James C. Callahan died Sunday, July 19, 2015 in Avery Manor in Needham. He was 81.

James Carter Callahan was born on August 7, 1933 in the Brighton neighborhood in Boston. Raised in Brighton he was educated at Boston College High School and graduated from St. Sebastian's High School. He graduated from Boston College in 1954 and received a master's degree in religious education from Emmanuel College in 1970. He later received a certificate in pastoral counseling from Emmanuel in 1989. Jim honorably served his country in the United States Air Force and later the Marines. He married Joann A. Graceffa, a native of the Nonantum neighborhood in Newton on June 9, 1968 in Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Newton Corner and they lived over 15 years in Waltham before returning to Newton in 1984.

Deacon Jim worked for over 11 years for the Archdiocese of Boston as Director of Religious Education for many parishes. He also worked for over 15 years for the Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton as a counselor, teacher and administrator. The word pastoral is synonymous with Jim Callahan. For over three decades he served the parish community of Saint Charles Borromeo in Waltham as their deacon. He loved his work as deacon and serving the needs and members of the parish and overall community. Jim remained humbled and felt privileged to have been an integral part of its Catholic community. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 we are taught and reminded that 'faith, hope and love' remain. Deacon Jim embodied each of these virtues in his daily interactions with family, friend, parishioner or stranger.

In his free time Jim was an avid reader and had a keen interest in history. Aside from time spent with his family he also had affection for the many dogs that were a part of his lifetime, especially Belle.

In addition to his wife of 47 years, Joann, he leaves his children, Gene C. Callahan of Newton and his fiancée Jennifer Padellaro, Jody A. Callahan and her husband, Gregory Graves of Northampton and Jane A. Callahan and her husband, Jon Ramos of Boston; his sister-in-law, Marilyn Halpern and her husband, Harry of Watertown; his brother-in-law, Philip Graceffa and his wife, Peggy Coulson-Graceffa of Newton; also survived by nieces and nephews;

Family and friends will honor and remember Deacon Jim's life by gathering for calling hours in The Blessed Sacrament Chapel of Saint Charles Borromeo Church, 51 Hall Street, Waltham on Wednesday, July 22nd from 4 to 8 p.m. and again on Thursday morning where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be made to St. Charles Borromeo Church, in c/o St. Mary's Church Rectory, 133 School Street, Waltham, 01451 or The Carroll Center for the Blind, 770 Centre Street, Newton, 02458.