William (Buddy) Thomas Wholey, 61 of Haverhill, Ma, took his final step toward heaven on Monday Dec 16 surrounded by family and friends at the Merrimack Valley Hospice after a courageous battle with cancer which he fought with a quiet grace and dignity. William was born in and was a longtime resident of Lawrence, the son of the late Frank J. Wholey and Rita C. (Holihan) Wholey. He attended Holy Trinity School in Lawrence and graduated from Lawrence High School with the class of 1970 before attending Northern Essex Community College. Buddy worked as a surveyor and was instrumental as part of the team that surveyed the land that would become the Methuen Mall. Later in life he devoted his time to helping his mother with whom he shared a love of animals. Bud enjoyed listening to music, especially the Beatles and could sing along with most songs as if he had written the words himself. He was a lifelong Red Sox fan as well as a master of geography and was a veritable encyclopedia of facts and figures. In keeping with his proud Irish upbringing, Buddy was a devout believer in God and rarely missed a daily mass whether at the church or on television. He was blessed with a kind, caring and generous nature. William was predeceased by his brother and best friend Frank J. Jr (Sandy). He is survived by his beloved sister Mary (Wholey) Kirkpatrick and her husband Jim of Haverhill, MA, one aunt and several cousins.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to call on Saturday, December 21st, 2013 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, MA. His funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, December 21st, 2013 at 12:00 Noon at Saint John the Baptist Church in Haverhill, MA. Burial will take place at a later date.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 North Avenue, Haverhill, MA 01830.