John Thomas O’Brien, Jr. 71, of Franklin, died, Friday, January 27 in the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester. He was the husband of Rita (MacNeil) O’Brien.
Born in Boston, August 28,1945, the son of the late John T. and Norene (O’Neil) O’Brien, Mr. O’Brien was raised in Roxbury and had lived in Jamaica Plain before moving to Franklin in 1972.
Mr. O’Brien had worked for the MBTA, on the green line, as a motor person for 28 years before retiring.
Following his retirement, he worked for 10 years for the Laborers Union Local ,22.
A family man, he loved spending all his spare time with them. He and his wife had spent the past 15 years at their Winter home in Naples, Florida.
John also collected model trains.
In addition to his wife he is survived by his children, Suzanne Davis and her husband Greg of North Attleboro and John T. O’Brien III and his wife Laurie of Lincoln, Rhode Island.
He is also survived by his brother James O’Brien of Quincy and was the brother of the late Ann Marie Fortune.
John is also survived by his grandchildren, Christopher Charles Davis and Eleanor Elizabeth Davis, and John T. O’Brien IV, Haylee Catherine O’Brien, Aidan Thomas O’Brien and Savannah Rose Edwards.
His funeral will be held on Wednesday, February 1 from the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com) 131 Main Street, Franklin at 9:15 followed by a funeral mass in St. Mary’s Church at 10:00.
Burial will be at a later date at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Franklin.
Calling hours will be on Tuesday from 5-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN.38105-9959.