John N. Rooney

Waltham - Mr. John N. Rooney, of Needham and Norwood, formerly of Waltham, died Monday, January 6, 2014. He was 90.

John was born on October 26, 1923 in Waltham a son of the late Joseph H. and Julia (Shea) Rooney. Raised and educated in Waltham he was a graduate of the former St. Mary's High School. Like many other young men his age he joined the United States Navy out of high school. He served aboard the USAT Borinquen, a troop transport ship that delivered more than a thousand soldiers to the beaches at Normandy during the first day of the invasion to free Europe on June 6, 1944.

After his discharge from the Navy he married Aileen Logue and the couple lived many years in Waltham. He attended and graduated from the Firefighter Training Academy in Waltham.

For over 35 years John worked as a firefighter for the City of Waltham. He worked in the Central Station on Lexington Street, Engine 8 on Trapelo Road and until his retirement in 1981 at Engine 7 on Lake Street. While on the fire department he also worked at the A & P in Waltham's West End. Upon retirement from the fire department he worked at Stop & Shop Supermarkets in Lexington and in Norwood for many years.

Shortly after Aileen's death on April 23, 1991 he moved to Norwood. He later met and married Patricia A. (Holland) Chatterton and moved to Needham in 1996.

John was a member of Local 866 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, Waltham Firefighters Welfare and Relief Association, the Joseph F. Hill American Legion Post No. 156 in Waltham and enjoyed fundraising efforts for the SMA Father's in Dedham. He loved all things Irish especially its music and dancing. He was a member of the Boston Hanafin-Cooley Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE), an organization promoting traditional Irish culture, music and dance in the Boston area.

John's first wife, Aileen, their twin daughters, Martha and Mary and siblings, Paul B. Rooney and Patricia M. Powers predecease him.

In addition to his wife, Patricia, he leaves his son, John F. Rooney of Norwood; his step-children, Ruth C. Robinson and her husband, Stewart, of Bedford, James D. Chatterton and his wife, Maria of Needham and William M. Chatterton and his wife, Mary of Vail, Arizona; his brother, Donald J. Rooney and brother-in-law, Joseph Powers, both of Nashua, New Hampshire; five grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember John's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Thursday, January 9th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Friday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Saint Bernard's Cemetery, Concord.

Memorial donations may be made to SMA Fathers, 337 Common St., Dedham, MA 02026 or Boston Catholic Television, 34 Chestnut St., Watertown, MA 02472 or Little Sisters of the Poor, 186 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143.