Joseph A. Delaney

Joseph A. Delaney, of Weymouth, passed away January 30, 2015, attended by family. Every day was a gift he fought for. 

He was born on October 3, 1933 in Roslindale Massachusetts to Joseph and Catherine Delaney. The Delaneys lived on Washington Street. He told stories of childhood with his sisters, raising chickens and selling eggs as they watched trains full of tanks and planes roll by all day. He graduated from Boston Latin High School in 1950. Joe enlisted in the Marines in 1953 and took great pride in this experience that formed his singular character. That journey took him from boot camp to troop ships across the Pacific to winter exercises on Mount Fuji. He was stationed in Japan when the Korean War fortunately came to a close. 

Joseph Delaney and Helen McGovern met at a dance in 1957 and he had found the love of his life. They married in October 1959 and began a family of four boys. In 1966 they moved from Milton Avenue in Dorchester to a woodsy cape on Central Street in South Weymouth. Joe began a career, which spanned from 1956-1992, as a lineman and electrician with Bell Telephone. He developed from there as a manager of installations in downtown Boston. His knowledge of and love for the City of Boston was second to none. He progressed with the company as it became Nynex and retired as director of the Metropolitan Special Services Department. As he had as a young soldier, he used his time in retirement with a spirit of service. He was involved in the early planning of the transformation of the South Weymouth Naval Air Station. Joe has been a member of the Knights of Columbus and formed many strong friendships in the process. He would perhaps be proudest of his involvement with The Friends of the Unborn. He turned his convictions to real hope for women facing difficult decisions. His great enthusiasm and energy for these efforts was something to behold. Cape Cod held a special place in his heart; he summered there as a child and as a father of four. Waquoit and Mashpee provided a much-needed break to spend time with family. He developed as a skier as he introduced the kids to it. Golf was something he enjoyed but it was all the more enjoyable with his sons playing too. With Joe it was never too late to start painting watercolors or dig deeper into the things he loved, like history. 

Joseph is survived by his wife of 55 years, Helen (McGovern) Delaney, his son Mark and his wife Lisa, son Joe and his wife Anne, son Paul and his wife Jackie and son David; his sister Maureen Hardister, sister Carolyn Parrett, nieces Susan and Nancy; grandchildren Kyle, Michael, Ryan, Lauren and Jack. 

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Tuesday 4-8 PM in the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home SOUTH WEYMOUTH at 809 Main Street (Rte 18 opp. So. Shore Hospital) 

Relatives and friends will gather in the funeral home at 10 Wednesday prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Francis Xavier Church, Weymouth at 11.

Burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Weymouth.

In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Joseph may be made to Friends of the Unborn, P.O. Box 692246, Quincy, MA 02269-2246.