Below is an obituary from Sweeney Memorial Funeral Home:
BILLERICA, MA — William J. O’Brien, age 88, beloved husband of Helen (Skirus) O’Brien died Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at the Edith Nourse Rogers Veterans Administration Hospital in Bedford with his family by his side.
He was born in Cambridge, December 28, 1936, son of the late William and Julia (Geany) O’Brien. Bill was a longtime Wilmington resident before moving to Billerica in 2006.
Bill proudly served in the US Army from 1954 – 1957. While serving he played on an award-winning football team. After the Army, he continued to play football on a Boston semi-pro team.
Bill met the love of his life, Helen, in Central Square, Cambridge. They married on November 4, 1962. They moved to Wilmington in 1970 where they raised their three daughters. He worked at Grenada Wines before starting his own business, Bill’s Catering. Spending time with family was most important to Bill. He loved going to the beach and enjoyed numerous family vacations at the lake. Bill and Helen always had a great time going out to eat and dancing with friends.
Besides his wife he is survived by three daughters, Laura Bossi and her husband John Jr., Patti Taylor and her husband Bill and Debbie Riley and her husband Kevin all of Billerica; one sister, Mary Dunn of Ireland as well as his eight beloved grandchildren, Elizabeth, John III, Alison, Billy, Lauren, Kristen, Katelyn and Emma. Bill is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A special thank you to the entire staff at the Bedford VA for all your loving care and support.
Visiting hours will be held Saturday, February 8th, at the Sweeney Memorial Funeral Home, 66 Concord Rd., Billerica from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. with a prayer service to be held at 1:00. Burial with military honors at the Fox Hill Cemetery, Billerica to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Homes for Our Troops.
Wilmington Apple 