Robert C. Furey

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.

Robert C. Furey, 75, of Lowell, Massachusetts, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, September 30, 2021, at Lowell General Hospital surrounded by his family.

He was the loving husband for over 52 years of Diane (Murphy) Furey.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, August 4, 1946, the son of the late James F. and the late Dorothy M. (Rowswell) Furey, he attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of the Lowell Trade School.

A veteran of the Vietnam War, Bob proudly served his family as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Prior to his retirement, he was a service technician for over 40 years with Colonial Gas, Lowell Gas and ultimately National Grid.

A car enthusiast, Bob was the proud owner of an antique 1980 Chevy Malibu which he showcased at many car shows and won many awards. He enjoyed playing golf with his family and friends and all Boston sports.

However, his greatest joy was when he was with his family, especially his granddaughter.

Besides his wife Diane, Bob is survived by his son Shaun Furey and his wife Kerry and his granddaughter Kaylee Furey all of Lowell; a brother James F. Furey and his wife Betty of Nashua, NH; two sister-in-laws Barbara Tyskewicz of Dracut and Colleen Boykins of Lowell; and several nieces and nephews.

All Services were held privately for the family. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the American Heart Association through heart.org. Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – LOWELL – MA – (978) 458-8768.

George F. Kinney

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother;

George F. Kinney, 81, passed away peacefully at his home in Brookline, NH on Saturday September 25, 2021.

He was the loving husband of Doris V. “Martha” Kinney with whom he shared 62 years of marriage.

Born in Lowell, MA on February 22, 1940, to the late Francis and the late Anna (Thibeault) Kinney, George ran, as a co-owner, a family-owned service station, Kinney’s Shell, on the corner of Pawtucket and Fletcher St in Lowell.

Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons William Kinney (Deana) and Richard Kinney; a daughter Sheila Kinney; seven grandchildren Richard, Jr., Stephania, Nicholas, Arielle, Ryan, Camron and Mackenzie; six loving great grandchildren Daxtin, Nicholas, Jr., Isla, Serenity, Henry and Wyatt; four brothers Donald, Michael, Peter and David; three sisters Frances, Linda and Donna; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his grandson Logan and two brothers Norman and William.

Funeral Services were held privately at the request of the family. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – LOWELL – MA – (978) 458-8768.

Joan M. O’Brien
Beloved wife and mother;

Joan M. O’Brien of Westford, MA, passed away at her home in late evening of September 23, 2021 following a long illness.  Joan succumbed to the effects of an autoimmune disease which she had resisted for the past 19 years.

Joan was the loving wife, for over 54 years, of Dr. Arnold L. O’Brien who survives her.

Born in 1941 in Lowell, MA to the late Samuel and Helen (Carey) McDonald she attended Lowell Schools.

Graduating from Lowell State College in 1962 with a BS in Education, Joan was the second person from Lowell to enter the Peace Corps; an action she took against the wishes of her family who feared for her safety. She lived in a nipa hut in the small village of Hagonoy, slept on a bamboo mat and served the Barrio of Guihing, Philippines as teacher and health advisor.

Upon her return she taught several elementary grades in the Lexington Public Schools where she was part of a Harvard University project to improve early education. In Lexington she met Arnold O’Brien whom she married in 1967.

Joan left teaching in Lexington in 1971 when her first child was born but remained active in education. In the early 80’s she served two terms on the Westford School Committee and was appointed by Westford officials to serve on the Nashoba Tech committee – an appointment she held for 20 years.

At the same time, she was serving on the committees, Joan bought and operated three Sylvan Learning Centers in Chelmsford, Acton and Nashua. Through the Centers she provided tutoring and educational support for students who needed more than their local districts could provide. She was a licensed child advocate and used her authority and knowledge of State and Federal programs to further assist her students.

In 2002, Illness caused her to retire from full time work at her Centers but her dedication to students and education drove her to volunteer her time as a tutor at Nashoba Tech. Eventually her progressing illness required her to leave her volunteer work.

For her long service and dedication to education, Joan received many awards and citations. Joan was recognized by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees with a lifetime achievement award for more than 25 years of service to public education; also a joint award from the Mass. Assoc of School Committees and the Nashoba Tech. District (6 Towns) for outstanding commitment to public education. Joan received a citation from the Massachusetts Office for Children in recognition of her “efforts on behalf of children in Massachusetts” and “dedication to the ideals of the office”. Joan also received a Volunteer Service Award from the Non-Profit Alliance of Greater Lowell and citations from the Sylvan Learning Corporation.

A devoted wife and mother who always had time for her family. She loved cooking and provided her family with a variety of foods and occasional exotic recipes.  She was interested in travel and helped arrange several European homestay trips with her husband and school age children. A lover of the Maine seacoast, she made sure her family spent as much time there as possible.

Joan was passionate about life, adventurous and outgoing – traits she used to enrich the lives of her family and friends. In the broadest sense Joan was a builder, using her abundant energy to build family, young lives and institutions.

Besides her husband Arnold, she is survived by her Son Robert and daughter-in-law Kathy O’Brien of Wakefield, MA, by her daughter Susan and son-in-law Lucas Guarino of Springfield, NJ and grandchildren Thomas and Richard O’Brien and Sydney and Nathan Guarino. Also, by her brother David McDonald and his wife Peggy, nephews David, Carey, Tim McDonald and niece Meagan Fleming plus many cousins who live in the Lowell area.

Friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL on Wednesday September 29, 2021, from 3:30 to 7:30 pm. The wearing of masks is encouraged. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Mass to be celebrated Thursday morning at SAINT RITA’S CHURCH in LOWELL at 10:00 o’clock. Committal Services will be private. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. 978-458-8768.

John J. Mahoney

Beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend;

John J. “Jack” Mahoney, 90, of Largo, Florida, but for many years a resident of the Pawtucketville section of Lowell, MA and later North Andover, MA, passed away peacefully in Florida on Friday September 17, 2021, with his family by his side.

He was the loving husband of the late Mary Ellen (O’Connell) Mahoney. Previously, he was the husband of the late Marjorie (Corcoran) Mahoney.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, May 10, 1931, the son of the late John J. and the late Eileen (Beedy) Mahoney. John attended St. Patrick Grammar School and was a graduate of Keith Academy Class of 1948. He went on to graduate from Merrimack College in 1953 and then received his Master’s in Social Work from Boston College in 1955.

John proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Army.

Prior to his second retirement, John was the Director of Shelter Resources for Community Teamwork of Lowell. Previously, he retired from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where he worked for over 30 years and was serving as the Regional Administrator of Transitional Living during his final years there.

An enthusiastic Boston sports fan, especially the Red Sox and the Patriots, John also had a passion for playing golf and an occasional night out for Karaoke. However, his greatest joy was spending time with family. He loved to share stories, travel to new destinations and extend a helping hand to all throughout the years.

He is survived by three daughters Mary Jo Santoro and her partner Jimmy Sampson of Largo, FL, Karen Gurney and her husband Barry of Newport, North Carolina and Allison Chasse and her partner Neil Murphy of Dracut, MA; two sons David Mahoney and his wife Lisa of St. Augustine, FL and Thomas Mahoney of Sunset Beach, CA; twelve grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

John was the father of the late Kevin Mahoney and brother of the late Richard P. Mahoney, the late James Mahoney, the late Mary Lou Wilder and the late Elizabeth “Betty” Bohenko.

Friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL on Tuesday September 28, 2021, from 3 to 7 P.M. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Mass to be celebrated Wednesday morning at ST. RITA CHURCH in Lowell at 10 o’clock followed by burial in St. Patrick Cemetery. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at pulmonaryfibrosis.org.  Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.