Richard M. Fennelly

Framingham – Mr. Richard M. Fennelly, Jr. of Framingham, formerly of Waltham, died Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham. He was 80.

Dick was born in Newton on November 6, 1934, a son of the late Richard M. and Josephine F. (Nally) Fennelly. He was raised in Newton where he graduated from Our Lady Help of Christians High School. After that he served with the United States Army Reserves while he attended Boston University.

Following his B.U. graduation Dick was drawn to serve people in the funeral profession and enrolled at the former New England Institute of Anatomy, Sanitary Science and Embalming, now a part of Mount Ida College in Newton. He served his apprenticeship, first at the Frederic J. Crosby Funeral Home in West Roxbury, and then with Waltham's William F. Walsh of the Walsh Funeral Home on High Street.

Dick quickly became well acquainted with the Waltham community and began working full time with the Walsh firm in 1958. While he was still in school he began courting Watertown native Joan M. Daggett and after their marriage they moved into the apartment above the funeral home and made Waltham their home before moving to Framingham in 2001.

In 1972 Dick became the sole owner of the funeral home and later changed the name of the firm to Walsh-Fennelly Funeral Home that he operated with his daughter Karen until his retirement in 2002. Dick will long be remembered for his gregarious personality, his spirit of generosity and his eagerness to help those in need. He served his family, his profession and his community well.

He was an avid golfer and a longtime member of Oakley Country Club in Belmont. Dick also belonged to the Knights of Columbus in Newton, the Joseph F. Hill American Legion Post No. 156 in Waltham, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2152 in Waltham, the Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge No. 1018 in Waltham and the 100 Club of Massachusetts.

Dick was also a longtime parishioner of Saint Charles Borromeo Church in Waltham where he served as an usher and a member of the parish Saint Vincent dePaul Society. He was also a former board member of the Waltham Boys & Girls Club and the Waltham Kiwanis Club.

The husband of the late Joan M. (Daggett) Fennelly, he leaves his children, Richard M. Fennelly, III and his wife, Judi, of Millbury, Gregory Fennelly and his wife, Rosemarie, of Natick, Karen J. Fennelly of Framingham, and William W. Fennelly and his wife, Laura, of Millbury; his grandchildren, Ashley, Richard M., IV, Gregory S., Kyle P., Christopher R., and William M. Fennelly; his brother and sister, William J. Fennelly of Mendon and Sheila A. Anderson and her husband, Donald, of Waltham and many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Dick's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Tuesday, May 26th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Charles Borromeo Church, 51 Hall Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.