John J. Countryman

Mr. John J. Countryman, of Waltham, died Friday, August 9, 2024 in the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Roxbury after an illness. He was 75. 

John was born January 13, 1949 in Waltham the only child of the late Lyle E. and Anna (LeBlanc) Countryman. A lifelong Waltham resident he graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1969 and then earned his nursing degree from Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing in 1972. He entered the United States Army Reserve in its student program from 1971 – 1972 and served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps until 1975 as a 2nd Lieutenant in general duty as a registered nurse. 

John enjoyed a long career in nursing at facilities including Waltham Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, U.S. Army Nurse Corps in locations including Walter Reed Hospital, Seoul, South Korea, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He then worked at Reservoir Nursing Home, Metropolitan State Hospital and lastly, Middlesex Regional Alcohol Treatment Center, retiring in 1989. 

A man of deep faith his entire life he remained devout to being a Catholic Christian. A member of Saint Mary’s Parish he also served as Eucharistic Minister at St. Charles Borromeo Church. He was a longtime member of the Secular Franciscan Order and was active for many years at Saint Anthony Shrine on Arch Street in Boston. Most recently, he was a member of the Consecrated Third Order Regular Franciscan Hermits. 

John was a member of the Massachusetts Nurses Association, Retired Armed Forces Association, American Red Cross Nursing Member, Aides of St. Anne – Titular Member, a founding member of WGBH and the Boston Archdiocesan Choir School Club, now Saint Paul’s Choir School in Cambridge to which he was a benefactor. He served as a member of Waltham’s WATCH organization, the Waltham Affordable Housing Committee and he volunteered in the Global Thrift Store in Waltham. 

He leaves numerous friends that reach far beyond his much loved and native Waltham but many from his Church, religious and civic communities.

Friends will honor and remember John’s life by gathering for an evening wake on Thursday, August 15th from 4 to 7 p.m. in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, (Rte. 20), Waltham. His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday in Saint Mary’s Church, 133 School Street, Waltham at 10 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Those wishing to view the broadcast (and recording) of his Mass please use this link: https://my.gather.app/remember/john-countryman

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Capuchin Province of St. Mary, Mission & Development Office, Attn: Father Michael Greco, OFM Cap., 110 Shonnard Place, Yonkers, NY 10703-2226 or www.capuchin.org/support-us/#donate-form