John V. Whelan III

Born on April 7, 1940 in Franklin and moved to Norwood at age 7, John was the son of the late Dr. John V., Jr. and Eileen (McMahon) Whelan. He was the beloved husband of the late Anne H. (Hogan) Whelan. He was the loving father of Anne C. Hayes and her husband, Dennis, of Norfolk and Laura E. Whelan-Bratsis and her husband, Vasilios, of Walpole. John was the cherished grandfather of Olivia and Abigail Hayes, Adam and Arya Bratsis, and the late Bella Bratsis. He was the dear brother of Patricia A. Hoskeer and her late husband Joseph of ME, Mary Alice Hilliard and her husband Donald of NH, Eileen F. “Sue” Ellis of Wrentham, and the late Robert P. Whelan. John is, also, lovingly survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

John, a lifelong resident of Norwood, was highly educated and a proud graduate of St. Catherine of Siena School, Norwood High School, Class of 1957, Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School, Waltham, Tufts University and University of Massachusetts, Lowell. John proudly served his country in the US Army Reserves. He was a civil engineer & surveyor employed by the Massachusetts District Commission. Some of his finest structural design constructions include, the development of Pope John Paul II Park, Dorchester, the re-construction of the Nantasket Beach Seawall, Paragon Park, the structures along the Mass Pike, and worked at the Big Dig. John was a member of the Norwood ELKS, Lodge #1124. In his spare time, he loved golfing, playing pool, cheering for all his favorite Boston sports teams and spending time with his family.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 19th at 10AM from the Gillooly Funeral Home, 126 Walpole Street (Rte. 1A), Norwood, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11AM in St. Catherine of Siena Church, Norwood. Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery, Norwood. Visiting hours will be held Sunday 2-6PM in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of John to either The ARC of South Norfolk, 789 Clapboardtree Street, Westwood, MA 02090 or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, www.StJude.org.