WORCESTER-Robert J. Fanning, Sr., 83, of Worcester, died Thursday, December 23rd. His wife of 51 years, Dorothea A. (Monast) Fanning, died in 2001. He leaves three sons, James P. Fanning, II, and his wife Joan, Stephen F. Fanning and his wife Linda, and Robert J. Fanning, Jr. and his wife Cindy, all of Worcester; two daughters, Kathleen A. Dacri and her husband Vincent of Worcester and Ellen M. Doherty and her husband John of Holden; a sister, Mary Nichols of St. Paul, MN; 11 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by two brothers, James P. Fanning, Jr. and Thomas F. Fanning, and two sisters, Catherine Donahue and Theresa Fanning.
He was born in Worcester, the son of James P. and Catherine (Ashe) Fanning and graduated from the former High School of Commerce. Mr. Fanning was a firefighter for the City of Worcester for 38 years, retiring in 1989. He was also a carpenter for many years, retiring from the Worcester Science Center, now the Ecotarium. Bob was a member of Our Lady of the Angels Church, the Knights of Columbus, Alhambra Council l88, the American Legion Main South Post 341, the Worcester County Retired Police and Fire Employees Association, and was a former director at the Worcester Fire Department Credit Union. He was a World War II U.S. navy veteran.
Bob’s family would like to thank the staff’s of Beaumont Rehabilitation Center and DaVita Dialysis for the care and compassion they provided for him.
The funeral is Wednesday, December 29th from O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue, with a Mass at Noon in Our Lady of the Angels Church, 1222 Main Street. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery. Calling hours are from 4:00 until 7:00 Tuesday, December 28th in the funeral home. Contributions in Bob’s memory may be made to the New England Center for Children, 33 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772.