Joseph "Jay" W. O'Brien, Sr.

Joseph W. “Jay” O’Brien, Sr., of Swansea, age 79, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 16, 2023 at his home surrounded by his family. He was the loving and devoted husband of Mary J. “Mary Jo” (Egan) O’Brien to whom he was married for 55 years.

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, son of the late Joseph W. O’Brien Sr. and Margaret L. (McGlynn) O’Brien, he was a longtime resident of Swansea.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from College of the Holy Cross in 1967. He received his Master’s degree in Special Education from Bridgewater State University in 1973. He worked as a Special Education teacher in the Taunton Public School system for 36 years before his retirement in 2010.

A volunteer EMT for the Swansea Ambulance Corps, he also served as the biggest fan for his children at virtually every sporting and other activity they participated in. A communicant of St. Louis de France Church (now Our Lady of Peace Parish), he was a committed man of faith who cherished attending Mass with his wife and family, living his faith quietly through prayer and acts of charity without fanfare. With a strong faith and dedication to his entire family, he was a model of service to others.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by nine children, Mary J. Harding and her husband Christopher of Swansea, Mary Marguerite “Maille” Lyons and her husband Kevin of Annapolis, MD, Joseph W. “Jay” O’Brien, Jr. and his wife Kathryn of Newport, RI, Joseph “Mark” O’Brien and his wife Aleta of Hudson, MA, Mary Teresa O’Brien and her husband Christopher of South Kingstown, RI, Mary Genevieve “Genny” Clark and her husband Gregory of Somerset, Mary Kathleen “Kathy” Burke and her husband Thomas of Manlius, NY, Mary Clare O’Brien of Freetown and Mary Patricia “Patty” Geis and her husband Phillip of Colchester, CT; twenty one grandchildren, Patrick, Katie, Kiera, Josephine, Quinn, Caelen, Allison, Colleen, Brendan, Sean, Paulina, Liam, McKayla, Connor, Aiden, Declan, Mackenzie, Emily, Jack, Sandra, and Joey; four great-grandchildren, Brian, Erin, Max, and Rylee and many in-laws, nieces and nephews.

His Funeral Service will be on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 9:00 AM from the Waring-Sullivan Home at Birchcrest, 189 Gardners Neck Rd., Swansea followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM in St. Louis de France Church, 56 Buffinton St., Swansea. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Contributions in his honor may be made to Mastery School of Independent Learning via check to 30 Third St., Fall River, MA 02720 or via PayPal to [email protected]. Private burial in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Somerset.

For directions and tributes, www.waring-sullivan.com.