LYNN — Janice M. (Callahan) O’ Brien, age 76, a lifelong resident of Lynn, passed away at Kaplan Family Hospice House, Danvers, on Sunday, June 4, 2017 surrounded by her loving family.
Born on Feb. 14, 1941 in Lynn, she was the daughter of the late Earl and Helen (Adrian) Callahan. She was the beloved wife of the late Charles “Charlie” O’Brien, with whom she shared 53 years of marriage. She graduated from Lynn English High School with the Class of 1958.
Janice was the proud and devoted mother of 12 children and a loving homemaker. She was a devout Catholic and a member and daily communicant of Holy Family Parish. She was a member of its Ladies Sodality, its Parish Council and volunteered for many other functions and activities. She was a strong advocate for the Right to Life movement. She also volunteered as a librarian at the Hood school and was a member of its PTO. Janice was known for her quick wit and one-liners and enjoyed knitting and reading. Most especially, she loved to spend time with her grandchildren, attending their school activities and sporting events. She always had a cabinet full of candy, cookies and treats for her grandchildren for when they visited.
Janice is survived by her 12 children, Jeanne Mason and husband Donald, Colleen Brazell and husband Keith, Kerry Calnan and her late husband John, Mark O’Brien and wife Laurie, Erin Bushway and husband Matthew, Andrea Fila and husband Tim, Brendan O’Brien and wife Andrea, Meaghan O’Brien, all of Lynn, Patricia Briggs and husband Douglas of East Windsor, Conn., Charles T. O’Brien Jr. and wife Karla of North Reading, James O’Brien and wife Julie of Swampscott, Michael O’Brien of Manassas, Va.; her sisters, Lucille Pelly of Florida and Norma Gorman of Sudbury; 40 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, the late John Callahan.
Service information: Calling hours are Wednesday, June 7 from 4-8 p.m. at CUFFE-MCGINN Funeral Home,157 Maple St., Lynn, MA 01904. The funeral will begin at the funeral home at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 8. The funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 8 S. Common St. in Lynn. Burial will follow the Mass in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Lynn. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Janice’s memory to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, c/o Care Dimensions, 78 Liberty St., Danvers, MA 01923 or via Caredimensions.org For the online guestbook please visit Cuffemcginn.com.