John P. "Jack" Dykens of Woburn, MA passed away peacefully on September 27, 2023, with his three daughters by his side and listening to his favorite music in his hospital room overlooking the beautiful New Hampshire countryside. He was just three days shy of his 81st birthday; a milestone his family had planned to celebrate.
Jack was the beloved husband of the late Elaine M. (McCarthy) Dykens, with whom he shared 57 years of marriage. He was a devoted father to his daughters and sons-in-law, Denise and Gary Locke of Peabody, Rene and Charles Perry of Woburn, and Michelle and Craig Doyle of Windham, NH. A proud Papa, Jack also leaves behind what he considered his greatest legacy, his eight grandchildren; Christopher and Alexander Locke, Charles and Grace Perry, and Kaitlyn, Regan, Delaney, and Kelsey Doyle.
Jack will be remembered as a humble man and an astute judge of character, he loved good music, a firm handshake, a funny joke, a cold beer, and he believed in the value of hard work to get you ahead in life. Yet he had a soft side too, as he shared with his three daughters his love of nature and backyard wildlife. Though family fishing trips to Horn Pond never produced many fish, they did produce a treasure trove of funny childhood memories.
A Woburn resident for over 50 years, Jack loved spending time with his O'Connor cousins and his brothers- and sisters-in-law of the extended McCarthy family. Together they shared poker games, good times, vacations, and holiday celebrations.
Jack was born to William and Mary (Boyle) Dykens and was raised in Cambridge along with his sister and five brothers. He also went on to build his career in his hometown. As a young man, Jack joined Cambridge Electric Light Company (now Eversource) as a security guard, and rose through the ranks to retire as an electrical foreman. He was a master at his craft and mentored many younger recruits. His was a dangerous job, which led to a unique camaraderie among his coworkers. Jack loved to share the stories of his workdays "with the guys" as they restored power after the big storms, including the historic Blizzard of 1978.
After nearly three decades with Cambridge Electric, Jack and Elaine retired to spend winters in a warmer climate-though he never did stop monitoring the Boston storm forecasts on WBZ Radio from his Florida lanai! Together, Jack and Elaine enjoyed their slice of paradise on the Gulf Coast, and treasured summers with the grandkids on the lake in New Hampshire.
In his final days, Jack joked with the family with one of his famous sayings, "Coffins don't have pockets," and his final wish was that we celebrate him in style, because, after all, "we're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time."
Jack and Elaine, now together again, will be missed for eternity.
A funeral service will be conducted in the McLaughlin - Dello Russo Family Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant St., Woburn, Monday, October 2nd, at 12 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend and may visit with the family prior to the service from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Services will conclude with burial at Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. Donations in Jack's memory can be made to Fight Colorectal Cancer, 134 Park Central Square, Springfield, MO.