Joseph P. Whelan, of 7-9 South Meadow Village, Carver, died on December 22, 2009 at the Jordan Hospital, in Plymouth. He was 73 years old. Mr. Whelan was formerly of Weymouth, and Mattapan.
Mr. Whelan was born in Boston, and raised in Mattapan. Following his graduation from high school he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1962, and served in Guantanamo Bay during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Mr. Whelan worked for the U.S. Postal service for 26 years, in Brookline, Boston, and Quincy. Following his retirement from the Postal service he went to work for Bagnell Auto Supply for several years until his retirement in Carver. He found great delight as a bus driver for the Carver public school system.
Mr. Whelan is survived by his loving wife of 15 years, Arlene M. (Doyle) Colburn. Father of Kelly A. DiBacco and her husband Mauro of Rowley, Janie M. Iamele and her husband Mark of Georgetown, his son John (Ned) Whelan and partner Brian DeMeo of Marshfield. Grandfather of Alex, Sam, Mark, Luke, Josh, and Grace. Son of the late John E. and Bertha G. Whelan. Brother of Joan Drolett of Rockland, Janet Gregory of Texas, and the late John Whelan, and Jane Whelan. Mr. Whelan is also survived by his dogs Tink, Casey, and the late Bronco.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, December 27th from 4-8:00PM at the Shepherd Funeral Home, 116 main St (Rt. 58) Carver. A funeral mass will be held at 10:00AM on Monday, December 28th, at Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, 126 S. Meadow Rd, Plymouth. Internment will be private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: MSPCA-Angell, ATTN: Donations, 350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130, or American Heart Assoc. 20 Speen St, Framingham, MA 01701-4680.