Mr. Joseph R. Oliver, Sr.

OBITUARY Joseph R. Oliver, Sr. Navy Veteran WWII, Korea Loving Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather LOWELL—Joseph R. Oliver, Sr. passed away on Saturday morning, November 16, 2013 at the Kindred Hospital in Peabody. He was the beloved husband of Dorothy J. (Bassett) Oliver who died in 1997. A lifelong Lowell resident, Joseph was born on July 1, 1926, a son of the late John P. and Tina (Andrews) Oliveira. Joe was educated in the Lowell Schools and was a graduate of the Lowell Trade School. Joe was a “Double” Veteran. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War. Joe married his sweetheart, Dorothy J. Bassett in 1948 at the Sacred Heart Church. They made their home in South Lowell and together raised six loving children. Joe and Dot celebrated 49 years of marriage. They were parishioners of Sacred Heart Church until its closing. Joe’s passion was his family. Together, they all grew up enjoying recreational boating. This was Joe’s greatest hobby. He was a lifelong boater. All of his children grew up on and around their boat. To say that Joe was a hard worker would be a monumental understatement. Joe worked at Fletcher’s Quarry in Westford for 65 years. He was an Inventor/Designer/Builder, having been granted over 20 patents related to the Granite Industry. He retired at the young age of 83. In his younger years, Joe enjoyed dancing with his wife Dorothy at the Chelmsford Lodge of Elks. He also enjoyed watching professional tennis on television. Joe loved and cared for his dog “Rudy” and his cat “Kitty.” Most of all, Joe loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Joe is survived by his large loving family: his 6 children, Pamela J. Cortez and her husband Frank of Nashua, Brenda Lee Murphy and her husband James Murphy, of Westford, Joseph R. Oliver, Jr. and his wife Denise of Dracut, Robert D. Oliver and his wife Maria of Plaistow, Donna J. Barnes and her husband Gerald of Lowell, and Stephen J. Oliver of Kingston; 13 grandchildren, Kimberly J. Girouard and her husband Keith, James Murphy, Jr. and his wife Lina, Jessica Murphy and her fiancé Chris Dolbeare, Erin Melle and her husband Bruce, Ryan Oliver, Jenny Lister, Tony Cunha, Jillian D. Barnes, Gerard C. Barnes, II, Jacob M. Barnes, Daniel R. Oliver, Amanda N. Oliver, and Samantha A. Oliver; 4 great grandchildren, Isabella Dorothy Girouard, Addyson R. Melle, Jordan Lister and Anyia Lister; his brothers and sisters, William Oliver, Neil Oliveria, Gladys Carignan, and Thelma Curran; his uncle, John Andrews, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Joe was the brother of the late James Oliver, and the brother-in-law of the late Oscar Carignan, Katherine Oliver, and Teresa Oliveria. FUNERAL NOTICE OLIVER—In Peabody, November 16, 2013, Joseph R. Oliver, Sr., 87, husband of the late Dorothy (Bassett) Oliver, and a lifelong Lowell resident. Family and friends may call at the FAY McCABE FUNERAL HOME, 105 MOORE STREET, LOWELL, on THURSDAY from 2 until 4 and from 7 until 9 P.M. Mr. Oliver’s Funeral will begin on FRIDAY MORNING at 10:30 A.M. from the Funeral Home, followed by his Funeral Mass at 11:30 A.M. at ST. MARGARET’S CHURCH, 374 Stevens St. Lowell. His burial will follow in the St. Patrick’s Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, donations in Joe’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.org ARRANGEMENTS BY THE FAY McCABE FUNERAL DIRECTORS, 978-459-9222. www.faymccabe.com

Mr. Joseph R. Oliver, Sr.

July 1, 1926 - November 16, 2013