William J. O'Halloran

Waltham – It's almost poetic that Bill O'Halloran's life on this earth was book-ended by Christmas Day. This year he gets to see his Jean again . . . his wife of fifty-six years whom he's missed every day since her passing in October, 2011.

Bill was never a woe-is-me kind of a guy though . . . he was a man of unwavering faith. Bill and Jean were a great pair and over the years it was rare to see one without the other. Both Newton natives, they moved to Saint Jude Parish in Waltham the same year that John Kennedy was elected president and immediately planted deep roots.

Together with their six children their home was a busy place and one where the kids learned that things like life, love, faith, family and friendship mean everything. The kids learned their father's 'ism's' from a young age . . . his most memorable being "We rise and fall by the decisions we make" . . . always followed by the declarative "Bill O'Halloran." The 'Bill-ism's' will long be remembered for generations to come.

Bill grew up in Newton where he graduated from high school and later attended Northeastern University. When Uncle Sam called in June, 1952 he answered and spent almost a year and a half serving overseas with the United States Army during the Korean War.

After being discharged as a sergeant in 1954 he made tracks home to Newton where on September 24, 1955 he married his sweetheart, Jean A. Merlinos, in Our Lady Help of Christians Church on Washington Street.

Bill spent his entire working life at the Raytheon Company on Chapel Street in Newton where he worked his way up from a line job to management. For years he coached baseball for the Warrendale Little League along with his friend and neighbor, Connie Gisiger, and the kids they taught long remember them for their skill, fairness and for the fun they had playing the game.

After he retired from Raytheon he worked at the Willow Market on Willow Street in Waltham where he enjoyed keeping up with friends, old and new, as he stocked the shelves, cleaned the floors and kept track of the inventory. He and Jean also spent many happy years as members of Saint Jude Couple's Club and volunteering for the Friends of the Waltham Public Library.

It was at Saint Jude's though where he made a lifelong impact beyond his own family. Bill's vocabulary didn't include the word 'no' when it came to serving others. He could be counted on to open the church on the hottest day in July or during a winter blizzard wearing a warm smile and genuine words of welcome. He and Jean taught CCD classes and trained the new altar servers. He was a longtime lector and Eucharistic minister and for years led the Wednesday Novena after Mass.

He was also called on to head up the parish Saint Vincent dePaul Society where in typical Bill fashion he led with a quiet humility and generosity of spirit that was easy to follow.

In November, 2012 Bill was honored by the Archdiocese as a recipient of the Cheverus Award, named after Boston's first archbishop, for his unwavering lifelong commitment to serving God and His people.

Mr. William J. O'Halloran, of Waltham, died Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at the Sawtelle Family Hospice in Reading following a period of declining health. He was 86. He was born on Christmas Day, 1931 to the late Thomas F. and Isabel M. (Morrissey) O'Halloran.

He leaves his children, Gayle A. Mattone (John) of Lake Mary, Florida, Jeanne Marie Macdonald (Brian) of Wakefield, Carole L. Malone (John) of Sudbury, John W. O'Halloran of Greensboro, North Carolina, Michael J. O'Halloran (Lynne) of Waltham and Paul S. O'Halloran (Dawna) of Waltham; fifteen grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and their families.

Bill was also the brother of the late Isabel Beatty and Francis "Frankie" O'Halloran.

Family and friends will honor and remember Bill's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Sunday, December 23rd from 2 to 5 p.m. and again at 8 a.m. on Monday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Newton Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Saint Jude Parish, 147 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02453.