WESTFIELD: William Thomas O’Brien passed away peacefully on September 23, 2015. He was born in Westfield on November 13, 1926 to Daniel J O’Brien and Alice (Rooney) O’Brien. Bill was a graduate of St Mary’s High School, Westfield State University, and American International College.
He taught in the Westfield Public Schools for over thirty six years, first at the former Intermediate School and then South Middle School where he retired as Department Head. Bill was one of the founders of the Teacher’s Credit Union, now the Polish National Credit Union.
Bill was a WWII Veteran serving in the Pacific. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1847 and the American Legion Post 124. He was a communicant of St Peter and St Casimir Church, a lifelong member of the National Teacher’s Association, the Westfield Lodge of Elks, and the Sons of Erin.
Bill was predeceased in death by his sister Alice P O’Brien, his wife Maureen (Delehanty) O’Brien, and by his son Sean. He leaves a son Timothy of Hollywood, FL, and his daughter Kathleen and her husband Daniel Burns and their daughter Kelly, all of Westfield.
His funeral will take place Tuesday September 29, 2015 at 9:30 am from the Robert E Cusack Funeral Home, 94 Main St (Rt 20), followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial in St Peter and St Casimir Church, State St, at 10:30 am. Burial will follow in St Mary’s Cemetery, all in Westfield. Calling hours are Monday from 4-7 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Friends of the Athenaeum or the Sons of Erin Scholarship Fund.
