Daniel R. Delorey, Jr. (Rod)
Class A Welder and Retired Teledyne Leeman Labs Inspector
Rod Delorey, 85 years old and long- time resident of Tewksbury for over 60 years, passed away in the care of his loving family and Merrimack Valley High Pointe Hospice House in Haverhill on Thursday, April 11, 2019 after a brief stay.
Rod was a dedicated and loving husband to his wife Marjorie D. (White) Delorey with whom he celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on June 15, 2018. He cared dearly for Marjorie and as they grew older they continued to live comfortably at home together with the support of their family. For a short time in 2018, when both were too ill, they received good care while living at Peregrine Senior Living of Tewksbury.
Rod was well known in the community as friendly and outgoing always greeting people with a smile, a nod or a song or two.
Born in Winchester on April 20, 1933, he was the beloved son of the late Daniel R. Delorey Sr and the late Edna M. (Wells) Delorey. With a large extended family, being raised in Winchester, attending Winchester schools he had a wonderful childhood with many friends and family living nearby.
Rod was employed as a Class A Welder by the Fisher Scientific Company in Waltham for many years then worked as a Quality Inspector for Teledyne Leeman Labs in Hudson, NH and Lowell, MA until his retirement.
In the late 1950’s, Rod and his wife Marjorie moved to Tewksbury where they raised their six children. Rod was known as an original “Mr. Fixit” with a keen mechanical knack for making things operate. He truly enjoyed helping others, was a collector at heart, liked to garden, rebuild and ride motorcycles, operate his welding machine at home to create or repair parts for neighbors and friends, and enjoyed building and selling picnic tables with his son Danny and longtime friend, predeceased Calvin Hood (Cal) and son Jimmy.
For the past 40 years Rod dedicated his nights and weekends helping those with addiction, providing rides, a positive word, or a helping hand, while living his life one day at a time. On a typical spring day you would find Rod chatting with his friends at the corner store, grocery store and bank, singing Irish songs to bring cheer or simply being at home caring for the love of his life Marjorie.
In addition to his wife Marjorie, he is survived by his six children, Katherine A. Morris and her husband Philip Morris Sr., Susan M. Delorey-Smith and her husband Everett Smith, Daniel R. Delorey, III and his predeceased wife Diane M. Delorey (St Hilaire), Patricia J. Flodin and her husband Ralph C. Flodin Jr., Cynthia A. Delorey and Pamela J. Delorey. He also leaves behind his nine loving grandchildren and five great grandchildren, his loving sister in-law Suzanne Mackey and her husband Ron Mackey and his brother in-law Franklin White, as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family members whom he loved very much.
Rod was the loving brother of the late Dorothy Winslow and father-in-law of the much loved late Diane (St Hilaire) Delorey.
Calling hours are Wednesday, April 17, from 4-7 p.m. at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 18 at 12 Noon at the funeral home. Interment to follow at Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to High Point Hospice House, Attn: Daniel R. Delorey, Jr. Tribute Walkway Brick Fund, 360 North Avenue, Haverhill, MA 01830. To learn more about the Tribute Walkway and how this supports High Pointe House go to homehealthfoundation.org Ways to Give - Tribute Walkway.