George J. Buler, 82
Dateline: Bourne, MA
George J. Buler Sr., 82, of Bourne died on Friday, June 21, 2013 with a beautiful woman in his bed following a whiskey toast in his honor.
The toast was performed by loving family members, of which George had no shortage. Known as “Red” to many, he was a husband, father, brother, cousin, grandfather, and great-grandfather to a small army who adored him. The beautiful woman was his one and only, Martha “Mickey” (Rocha) Buler, of Bourne, who he loved with the kind of ferocity and passion that puts that Nicholas Sparks nonsense to shame.
George was a Navy veteran born in Norristown, Penn., who served from 1948-1952. His Navy stories were legendary, but he never would reveal what happened when he docked in Cuba. It’s probably best we don’t know. George then became a master plumber in Massachusetts, which is to say he worked on all of his relatives’ houses for free. George liked to say the proverbial tab for this work was last estimated to be higher than the national debt.
He was a man’s man who built things, fixed stuff, drank people half his age under the table, and still managed to go to the gym the next morning even into his 80s. But having been raised by six sisters, he also loved to shop and had a shoe collection that puts most runway models to shame.
Despite being a renaissance ladies man with luscious hair that somehow withstood chemo, George’s claim to fame was his cooking. He hosted Thanksgiving, Christmas, and his annual St. Patrick’s Day corned beef and cabbage was not to be missed. He loved to use wine, and occasionally it even made it into the food. A house full of full bellies and warm hearts was George’s ultimate goal, and he never disappointed. George never took any credit despite doing all the work, claiming instead that everything simply “fell off the truck.” That damn truck is going to be missed.
George was predeceased by his parents, George W. Buler and Catherine (Holmes) Buler, and his sisters Aggie, Leona, Millie, Betty, and Peggy, all of Pennsylvania.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sister, Kathleen Bateman, of Pennsylvania. Also his children: Martha (MJ) Gouveia of Norton and her husband Aaron; Thomas Howell IV of Maryland and his wife Michelle; Catherine Saba of Georgia; Darleen Borgeson of Easton; and George Buler Jr. of Rochester. George is also survived by 13 grandchildren (with a 14th coming next month) and seven great-grandchildren.
Friends, family, and old drinking buddies are cordially welcome to celebrate George’s life from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday June 27 at the Norton Memorial Funeral Home 19 Clapp Street (Off Route 140, Taunton Ave.) Norton.
A funeral mass will be celebrated in St. John the Evangelist Church, 133 North Main St. in Attleboro, on Friday, June 28 at 10:00 A.M. Burial with military honors will follow at the Norton Center Cemetery on Pine Street in Norton
The family asks that no one wear black, as this is strictly a celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of George Buler to support cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284, or via www.dana-farber.org/gift.
To send George’s family a message of condolence, please visit www.nortonmemorial.com
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