Korean combat veteran and jack of all trades who was proud of his children
NORTH READING — William “Bill” Emerson O’Brien, 92, passed away peacefully at home on his cherished farm on Sunday, June 16, 2024, surrounded by his large loving family.
Bill was born and raised in Reading, Massachusetts where he attended and graduated from Reading High School. While in high school he excelled at many things to include baseball, football, basketball and was a class officer. He worked at his father’s Texaco service station and also met the love of his life, Barbara Banfield.
After graduation in 1950, he entered service to his country in the U.S. Navy. He very proudly served aboard the U.S.S. Missouri assigned to the Pacific 7th Fleet and was quick to point out that the Empire of Japan surrendered on the deck to end their involvement in WWII. He toured the world with the Navy, serving from 1950 – 1955. While in the Navy he traveled up and down the East Coast of the United States, traveled through the Panama Canal, Hawaii and Japan. He also earned the title “Shellback” having crossed the equator. He was a combat veteran having served in the Korean Conflict. He earned the Korean Service Medal (2 stars), National Defense Service Medal, China Service Medal and the United Nations Medal.
Upon his Honorable Discharge from the Navy he came home and married Barbara, who is predeceased. Together they raised five children, William Jr., Debbie, Lisa, Dennis and Timmy, on Redmond Ave. in North Reading. He also started the first street sweeping company in New England, W.E. O’Brien and Sons Inc., which he owned and operated for over 50 years.
His family continued to grow when he married his second wife, Lynnda Cole, and became father to Joddie, Randy, Christopher and Heidi Govoni. That is when he fulfilled his dream of buying a farm on Park Street in North Reading. Together they had Aimee, Colin and Mical.
Later in life Bill married Frances Kathryn and became a dad to Alex and Bowen Cain and also Richard and Susan Bell.
Bill was a jack of all trades and did a little of everything. He bought and sold horses, drove street sweepers, rubbish trucks, hauled freight to N.Y. and N.J., plowed snow and most recently he could be found sitting outside his roadside farmstand at Windswept Farm, as he called it. Bill was extremely proud of all his children and was thrilled to have worked alongside them at various times in all of his endeavors. He was a proud Irishman, loved Irish music, Irish blessings and any holiday or reason to get all of his family together. In his final days he was quick to tell everyone who visited that he had everything he ever wanted and could move on with no regrets.
He is survived by his children, William O’Brien Jr., Dennis O’Brien and his wife Sharon (Zimmerman), Timothy O’Brien and his wife Linda, Debbie (O’Brien) Duke and her husband John, Lisa (O’Brien) Sweeney and her husband Jack, Aimee O’Brien and her fiancé, Kevin Watt, Colin O’Brien, Mical O’Brien and his wife Alison (Maher), Joddie (Govoni) Wade and her husband John, Heidi (Govoni) Strong and her husband Dan, Randy Govoni and his wife Sharon, Chris Govoni and his wife Sue, Alex Cain, Bowen Cain, Richard Bell and his wife Lindsey and Sue Bell and her husband Jeremy.
In addition to his children, he is survived by 26 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his siblings, sister Barbara, and brothers Philip H. “Nick” and Tom O’Brien.
His funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Saturday, June 22 at 9:15 a.m. followed by a 10:30 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Parish, 63 Winter Street, North Reading. Calling hours will be held on Friday, June 21 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Croswell’s Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Interment will be private at a later date.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to: Tunnels 2 Towers Foundation (t2t.og) or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org). To leave an online message of condolence please visit www.croswellfuneralhome.com.
