WEST BOYLSTON-Michael J. Kittredge, Jr., 81, of West Boylston died Thursday, December 18, 2014 with his loving family by his side.
He leaves his wife of 58 years, Loretta (Anthony) Kittredge; a son, Michael J. Kittredge, III and his wife, Kathleen of W. Boylston; two daughters, Lisa Kittredge of Burbank, CA and Laurie Peake of Shadow Hills, CA; three grandchildren, Michael J. Kittredge, IV, Jenna Brier and E.J. Manning; and four great grandchildren, Kara, Addison, Adam and Dylan. He also leaves a brother John Kittredge of Clinton and two sisters, Mary Hogan of Newtown, CT and Margaret Murphy of Clinton; and many close nephews, nieces and extended family. He was born in Clinton, the son of Michael J. and Grace (Devaney) Kittredge and graduated from Clinton High School. Michael was a Navy Veteran of the Korean War. After the service Mike, graduated from Worcester Junior College and attended Clark University.
Michael and his wife have operated the Rose Cottage Bed and Breakfast in West Boylston 30 years. Michael had a strong belief in community service and helping others in the Town of West Boylston. Michael currently served as a Selectman and was a former commissioner of the Water Department. He was a founding member and served on the boards of the West Boylston Business Association, the West Boylston Athletic Association and the West Boylston Community Club.
Michael had a strong faith and was an ordained acolyte, eucharistic minister, CCD teacher and RCIA teacher. He was responsible for training hundreds of young people as alter servers at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. He also was a longtime member of the First Friday Club and served as the First Grand Marshall of the West Boylston Saint Patrick Day Parade.
Michael's other passion was exploring the backroads and small towns of Ireland, a country he had visited 38 times. He, along with his cousin Patrick, formed a group affectionately named the Irish Trippers. The group consisted of four contingencies of men from Chicago, Philadelphia, West Boylston and Mayo, Ireland. Together, they visited Ireland for over 25 years. Uncle Mike, as he was known to all the trippers, was responsible for bringing dozens of his West Boylston family members and friends to Ireland to explore their heritage and to drink in the beauty of the country.
He will be greatly missed by family and many friends.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday, December 22 from 4-7 pm in FAY BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 1 WEST BOYLSTON ST., W. BOYLSTON. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, December 23 at 11:00 AM in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 111 Worcester St. Please go directly to church. Burial with Navy Funeral Honors will follow at Mt. Vernon Cemetery, W. Boylston.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mike’s memory may be made to Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 111 Worcester St., W. Boylston, MA 01583 or to the American Diabetes Foundation, 10 Speen St., 2nd Fl., Framingham, MA 01701.