Joseph M. ‘Joe’ Kelleher, 78 of Tewksbury, passed away gracefully on Friday, October 22, 2021 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Zelia (Pacheco) Kelleher with whom she shared 43 years of a loving marriage.
He was born in Somerville on July 1, 1943 and was a son of the late Edmond Kelleher and the late Marguerite (Wilcox) Kelleher. He was raised in Somerville, where he attended the area schools graduating from Notre Dame High School, before attending Newman Prep School. Joe played basketball in his younger days and loved baseball. He enjoyed coaching his daughter's softball team.
In 1985, he relocated to Tewksbury after living in Cambridge for 7 years. He became a communicant of St. William's Church, where he was an Eucharistic minister, a catechism teacher, helped assist in church collections, and participated with the Acts retreats.
Joseph was employed for 32 years at General Electric in the Customer Service department, before working for 25 years at the Boston Garden as an Usher Supervisor.
In addition to his wife, Zelia of Tewksbury, he is survived by six children, David Valente and his wife, Debra, Nancy Janko and her husband, Michael, David Kelleher, Christopher Kelleher, Jessica Kelleher, and Jennifer Kelleher; his six grandchildren, Jamie Lee Janko and fiancée Dan McNiesh, Christine Henriquez and her husband, Geovanny, Thomas J Valente and fiancee Alyssa Bethoney, Taylor Valente, Bradley Kelleher, and Corina Kelleher; and his great granddaughter, Gianna Henriquez-Janko.
He is also survived by his siblings, John Kelleher and his wife, Katherine, Katherine Mack, Patricia Waylan, and Daniel Kelleher; his brother and sisters in law, Albert Pacheco and his wife, Tina, Carmen Medeiros, Natalia Furtado and Gilda Clarke.
In addition to his parents, Joe was predeceased by his brother, Edward Kelleher, his sisters, Peggy Morgan, Mary Glynn, and Carol O’Rourke.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to: Alzheimer's Association, at:www.alz.org/donate or mailed to: 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.
ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2021, ALL ARE WELCOME TO GREET THE FAMILY AT 9:30 A.M. FOR HIS FUNERAL MASS AT 10 A.M. AT ST. WILLIAM’S CHURCH, 1351 MAIN STREET, TEWKSBURY, MA.
ARRANGEMENTS BY TEWKSBURY FUNERAL HOME, 1 DEWEY STREET, TEWKSBURY, MA.