SALEM - Elizabeth “Cha-Cha” O’Brien, 49, of Salem, died Friday at home on June 17th, 2011. Following a brief illness, she passed peacefully surrounded by her family.
Born in Salem, she was the daughter of Elizabeth (Pehlemann) O’Brien of Salem, and the late Francis X. O’Brien.
Elizabeth was employed as a staff assistant in the Human Resources & Equal Opportunity Department at Salem State University. She loved her work and was a dedicated employee who continued in her position until two weeks prior to her death.
A life long resident of the Salem Willows, Cha-Cha was a past president of the Juniper Community Club. She was president and treasurer of the Fort Pickering Light Association during the time of the lighthouse restoration at Winter Island. For many years Cha-Cha served as a Ward One Warden during election time under the direction of the City Clerk’s office.
Besides her mother, she is survived by four brothers, Joseph and his wife Pauline (Blake) O’Brien of N. Westminster, VT, Marc and his wife Janet (Cook) O’Brien and John “Hoppy” and his wife Lauren (Brophy) O’Brien all of Beverly Joseph P. Fleming of CT; three sisters, Anne (O’Brien) Kulas and her husband Jack of Dover, NH, Sharon (O’Brien) Fatello of Beverly, Margaret “Mitzi” O’Brien of Salem; a sister-in-law, Wendy (Millen) O’Brien of Port St. John, FL, 12 nieces and nephews and 9 grand nieces and nephews. One brother, James M. O’Brien, predeceased her.
A Memorial Service will be held at Juniper Point, Saturday, July 9th at 9:00 am. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. For those who desire, donations may be made in her memory to either the Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923, the MGH/North Shore Cancer Center, 102 Endicott St., Danvers, MA 01923, or to the Salem State University “Elizabeth A. O’Brien Scholarship Fund,” 352 Lafayette St., Salem, MA 01970. Arrangements by the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem. For on-line guestbook, visit www.SalemFuneral.com.