John (née Dwyer) Merriam, 77 of Franklin and Newton, who finally won his battle with Alzheimer’s after 11 years. He passed away in Hospice covered in kisses and hugs from those he loved. Son of Irene and Francis Merriam of Newton, he is survived by his wife of 54 years, Karen (Fitzgerald), and his two sons, John of Worcester, and Christopher of Walpole. Also survived by four of his five siblings, Donna Gorgone and her husband Bob, of Guilford, NH, Sharon Wentzell and her husband Lloyd of Fitchburg, James and his wife Susan of Maynard, Stephen and his wife Laura of Milford, and passel of loving in-laws, nieces and nephews. Predeceased by sister Valerie.
John was a war baby, whose little family immigrated to Canada, and when he was 12 to the US, where he became a proud citizen, serving in the Navy as a sonar technician during Vietnam.
He returned home to work at GM for the next 30 years. He had a degree in business, but he was much more enthusiastic about the cooking school he attended. It made him happy to feed up the family whenever the opportunity presented itself.
He loved music, the Celtics, camping, biking, canoeing, festivals and golf, usually with family. His sense of humor was his greatest asset, his wife often claiming that was the reason she married him, not his handsome face…and it was. We will all miss that so.
He loved to travel too, preferably to warmer climes, because he never stopped being chilly from his Nova Scotia childhood.
Funeral arrangements are private due to COVID-19, but a Celebration of his Life is being planned as soon as we can kick this virus down the road.
We would also like to acknowledge the phenomenal hospice care that he received from Clinton Hospital, true Angels…
If you wish, a donation may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
The Charles F. Oteri and Son Franklin Funeral Home 33 Cottage St. is honored to assist the Merriam Family. Guestbook www.oterifuneralhome.com