Dorothy Mary O’Brien
Tewksbury, Ma - Dorothy M. (Joyal) O’Brien, 96 years old, a longtime resident of Tewksbury, formerly of Newton, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 14, 2024, at Heatherwood Retirement Community in Tewksbury. She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph W. O’Brien Sr., who passed away April 1, 2006.
Dorothy was born in West Newton, MA October 10, 1927, daughter of the late Edmond J. Joyal, Sr., and Rose D (Fournier) Joyal. She was raised in Newton and graduated from Newton High School in 1945. Dorothy and Joe raised their family in Tewksbury, Ma. Prior to her retirement, she was employed at the Tewksbury Hospital and Tewksbury School Food Service,
Mrs. O’Brien was an active parishioner of St. Williams Parish in Tewksbury where she served as a communicant and former Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality and St. Vincent de Paul Society. A loving Mother and Grandmother, she is survived by her two sons, Joseph W. O’Brien, Jr., and his partner Markus Horvath, and two grandsons, Marco and Stefan of Königstein im Taunus, Germany, Edmond D. O’Brien and his wife, Sandra, and grandchildren, Erin, Julia, and Jake, of Tyngsboro.
Dorothy is predeceased by her siblings Bernice Joyal, Mrs. Elleanor Hanson and her husband Cliff, Ralph Joyal and his wife Barbara. Dorothy is also pre-deceased by her in-laws, Mary and Robert P. O’Brien, Grace and Tom Birmingham. Dorothy is survived by 21 nieces and nephews.
Calling hours are Monday, June 24, 2024, from 4-7 p.m. at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee Street, Tewksbury. Her funeral procession will begin on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at 8:45 a.m. at the funeral home followed by the Funeral Mass at 10am at St. Williams Church, 1351 Main Street (Route 38), Tewksbury. Services will conclude at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 90 River Road, Tewksbury. At Dorothy’s request, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to either St. Williams St. Vincent de Paul Society, 1351 Main St., Tewksbury, MA 01876 or Beacon Hospice Care, 290 Merrimack St., Suite 242, Lawrence, MA 01841.