William J. Clifford Jr.

William J. Clifford, Jr., ., 88, of Norwood, passed away Saturday, May 10, at home surrounded by his loving family. Born in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, he was the son of William J. and Bridget Clifford. Bill was the beloved husband of the late Rita (Delaney)Clifford, the loving father of Patricia Rooney of Milford, William J. Clifford, III of Norwood, Pamela Clifford and her husband Otto Wenger of Wrentham, and Dennis Clifford and his wife, Marie, of Norfolk. He was the cherished grandfather of Shane Rooney of Dracut, Emery Wenger of Wrentham, William J. Clifford of Phoenix, AZ, Jacqueline Clifford of Foxboro, and great grandson, Mason; the dear brother of Eileen Munsell of Dedham, the late Dennis Clifford, Mary Tracey and Jack Clifford; and the beloved uncle of many nieces and nephews. Bill served in the Navy during World War II aboard the USS Ticonderoga, earning five Battle Stars. Involved in the Norwood community, Bill’s civic activities included being an active member of St. Timothy Parish, a town meeting member for nearly fifty years, and a founding volunteer and long-time member of the board of directors for Norwood Youth Hockey. He was a founder of the Westover Neighborhood Association, and a Little League Baseball coach and manager. He was co-treasurer at the Norwood Senior Center and was appointed to the Council on Aging. Bill worked as an Architectural Hardware Consultant for Channel and Barber in Boston, Construction Specialties in Randolph, and United Builders in Framingham. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, May 15, at 9:00 AM at the Gillooly Funeral Home, 126 Walpole St., NORWOOD, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at St. Timothy Church, 650 Nichols St., Norwood. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery, Norwood. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, May 14 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in William’s memory to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.dana-farber.org. or to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 or via www.woundedwarriorproject.org.