James G. O’ Keefe of Medford died peacefully at the Bedford Hills Nursing Center. He was 90.
Raised in the Bronx, he was the son of the late Thomas and the late Mae (Kirby) O'Keefe. In the months before the outbreak of war, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in combat throughout the Pacific during World War II. While recuperating from injuries he met his wife Clara who was a Navy Nurse at the Charlestown Naval Hospital. James Stayed in the Corps and had a 20 year career and also served in the Korean War. After his retirement, her operated the Vara-O’Keefe Insurance Agency.
The beloved husband of the late Clara (Vara) O’Keefe, who died days before Jim, He was a devoted father to Vareen O'Keefe-Domaleski and her husband John of Bedford , NH: Lynne O'Keefe-Alshech and her husband Aharon of Derry, NH; Gerald O'Keefe and his wife Kimberly of Clifton, VA and the late James O’Keefe, Jr. He was a loving grandfather to 8 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and leaves his dear daughter-in-law Louise O’Keefe. Jim was also the brother of the late Thomas O’Keefe and Kathleen O’Keefe Wynn.
A funeral mass will be offered Friday, March 1, at 10 AM at St. Raphael Church, 512 High Street, Medford. Procession will gather at the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main Street Medford at 9 AM. Visiting hours at the funeral home on Thursday from 4 – 7.
Burial will be private and the family respectfully requests that flowers be omitted.