James B. O’Keefe, Jr. of Tewksbury, died in the Mary Immaculate Health Care Center in Lawrence, after a period of declining health on December 1, 2014. He was the beloved husband of Eleanor E. (Harrington) O’Keefe who died in 1987.
Jim was born in Somerville, October 20, 1918. He was the son of the late James B. and Kathryn (McGarry) O’Keefe. He was raised in the greater Boston area and after his marriage, he moved to Tewksbury in 1955 to raise his family. He was most recently, a member of the Senior Housing Community of Tewksbury.
He worked as a Steamship Clerk for the Boston Shippers Association for thirty-six years until his retirement. Jim had earned a Bachelors Degree in Education from Sacred Heart College in Pennsylvania and taught in the Wilmington School System.
Jim was a devout Catholic and was among the founding members of St. Dorothy’s. He had served as a Eucharistic Minister, Choir Director and the principal vocalist for over fifty years. He was also an avid supporter of the pro-life movement.
He is survived by three sons, Edward J. O’Keefe of Lowell, Gerard L. O’Keefe of Tewksbury, John L. O’Keefe and is wife Margaret of Lowell; a daughter, Christine M. Ouellette and her husband Robert of Nashua, NH; fifteen grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Jean Rivard of Chelsea and Maureen Ferullo of Florida; two brothers, Paul O’Keefe of Watertown and William O’Keefe and his wife, Lee of Somerville; a daughter-in-law, Kris (Ford) O’Keefe of Nashua; a sister-in-law Marlene (Mortonson) O’Keefe of Billerica; his devoted niece, Ellen Digby of Methuen; beloved friend Jean Jordan of Tewksbury and numerous nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his three sons, James B., III, Thomas R. and Stephen O’Keefe; siblings, Kathleen Driscoll, Virginia O’Keefe, Eleanor (McPhail) Sullivan, Lucille Falkenstrom, Eileen Cameron, Lawrence O’Keefe and Anne McNally.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 6, from 9:30 until 10:45 AM in St. Dorothy Church, Main Street, Wilimington. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 11:00 AM. Interment will be in Lowell Cemetery in Lowell. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Dorothy Church. www.tewksburyfuneralhome.com