WATERTOWN- James J. O’Brien, Jr., 92, of Watertown passed away Wednesday July 10, 2024.
James was born August 28, 1931, in Waterbury to the late James and Mabel (Kinney) O’Brien. James was brought up in Washington Hill and graduated from St. Francis Gramar School and Leavenworth High School in 1950. He was in the US Army and was stationed in Korea from 1952-1954. James was a car salesman for various dealers in the Waterbury area, and he retired in 1990 from the State of Connecticut, where he was a shuttlebus driver at Southbury Training School. He was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus council 00056.
James is survived by his sons Ricky O’Brien of Thomaston, Gary O’Brien and his wife Linda of Thomaston, and Thomas O’Brien and his wife Shannon of Watertown; his daughter and caretake with whom he lived for 14 year, Nancy Pepin of Watertown, his brother John O’Brien and his wife Barbara of Waterbury; his grandchildren Jennifer Wright, Chad Pepin, Amy O’Brien, Erica O’Brien, Kimberly O’Brien, Jeremy Pepin, Justin O’Brien, Thomas O’Brien, Jr., and Kylie O’Brien; his 10 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and his estranged wife Jeanne (Deschesnes) O’Brien. He also leaves his special friends Daniel, Malia, and Brody Izzi and CJ and Courtney Aubertin.
Besides his parents, James is predeceased by his granddaughter Lindsey Pepin, his nephew Steven O’Brien, his former son-in-law Gilles Pepin, and his sister Mary Rinaldi.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday July 15, 2024, at St. John the Evangelist Church, 574 Main St. Watertown, with burial and military honors to follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Friends are invited to call from 4-6 p.m. Sunday July 14, 2024, at Hickcox Funeral Home, 195 Main St. Watertown.
The family would like to thank his friends and caretakes at Apple Rehab of Watertown for their dedicated care and compassion over the last 4 months.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in James’ name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.
