Grandfather, Father, and Husband Owen R. Desy Jr. passed away at 80 years young, on Friday, January 11th at St. Vincent’s Hospital. He leaves the only woman he’s ever loved, his wife, Joan Marie (McManus) Desy, two daughters, Donna M. Desy and Deborah A. Barrera and her husband, Eris A. Barrera with his four grandchildren, Katie, Krystal, Shamrock, and Owen all of Auburn; his big brother, Louis J. Desy of Worcester; little sister, Judith A. Anderson of Auburn and many nieces and nephews.
Owen was born on Thanksgiving Day to Owen R. Desy, Sr. and Margaret (Powers) Desy. “One turkey in, one turkey out” his father often quipped, as the likely source of Owen’s sense of humor. Owen graduated from Worcester Boys Trade in ‘59 and later earned a certificate in Plastic Technology. He worked in the plastic industry for many companies including Foster Grant, and retired in 2000 from National Tool where he worked as a salesman for 15 years. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Church in Auburn and the Society of Plastic Engineers. In his youth, he was a skin diver and spearfished. During the summers, he would regularly be found sitting under the awning at Ogunquit Beach, ME with his grandchildren, as well as visiting other beaches along the eastern coastline. Owen enjoyed traveling with his wife, Joan-Marie, across the 50 states, which culminated with a trip to Hawaii for their 50th wedding anniversary. He was an avid reader, devouring the latest James Patterson novel in one hand and one of Katie’s oatmeal craisin cookies in the other. As he got older, his interests included photography, cartooning, and tying balloon animals especially at the Montessori picnics. He was a one-man circus with a sense of humor to match. He firmly believed that “life is for the living.”Appreciating life in every capacity, Uncle Owen took many people under his wing never afraid of showing them how to live.
Owen’s funeral will be held Wednesday, January 16th from O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Ave, Worcester with a Mass at 11:00 AM in St. Joseph’s Church, 189 Oxford Street, Auburn. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery, 260 Cambridge Street, Worcester. Friends and relatives are invited to attend a calling hour at the funeral home on Wednesday morning 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, before proceeding to the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Venerini Academy, 27 Edward Street, Worcester, MA 01605.