Paul H. O’Brien, 82
Dateline: Norton, MA
Paul H. O’Brien, age 82, of Norton, formerly of Wellesley, Natick and Cambridge passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at the Hope Health Hospice Center in Providence. He was the beloved husband of JoAnne (Lovejoy) O’Brien, to whom he was wed for nearly sixty-one years.
Born in Cambridge, MA on February 17, 1943, he was a loving son of the late William E. and Elizabeth R. (Rivers) O’Brien.
Paul grew up in the City of Cambridge and was a graduate of the Cambridge Rindge & Latin School. Prior to retiring, he enjoyed a successful career, that spanned thirty-two years, in Pension Accounts at John Hancock in Boston. He had made his home in Norton since 2003 and formerly resided for many years in Wellesley, Natick and Cambridge.
Paul’s greatest joys in life were family, friends and loyalty to his country. A member of the United States Army National Guard, he proudly served for thirty-nine years, retiring with the rank of Sergeant First Class. He was a member of the 114th Medical Battalion, a Mess Stewart, sooner became an Ambulance Platoon Sergeant and was then assigned to the 26th Infantry Division DISCOM. He was later assigned to MEDCOM, where he retired from in 2003. Following retirement, he worked as a Military Contractor till 2015.
Since living in Norton, Mr. O’Brien was a communicant of Saint Mary’s Church, where he faithfully served as a Eucharistic Minister and as a member of Saint Mary’s Council, Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the American Legion Post 221 in Bedford and a life member of the 26th Yankee Infantry Division Veteran’s Association. When younger, Paul was a member of the Lieutenant Norman Prince Drum & Bugle Corps and proudly participated and competed in many concerts and competitions.
Paul was always happiest when surrounded by his adoring family and lifelong military service friend Tom Ardita. He enjoyed traveling to many places with his wife and best friends Tom and Anne, their favorite point of destination being Aruba where they vacationed for twenty-three beautiful years. He and JoAnne also shared many fond memories while on a two-week European River Cruise while celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Paul also enjoyed socializing with the many people he met during his life, dining out, dancing, attending theatrical plays and when younger, the wonderful and relaxing summers spent with his parents and siblings in Old Orchard Beach, Maine
In addition to his wife, he was the devoted father of Lauren A. Ares of Norton and the late Steven A. O’Brien, who recently passed away on June 14, 2025. He was the adoring grandfather of Patrick Ares and Daniel Ares, both of Norton and the great grandfather of Emma, Abry, Alayna, Austyn and Kolton. He was the dear brother of Kenneth O’Brien and his wife Barbara of Milton and the late William O’Brien, who is survived by his wife Annette O’Brien of Holbrook, the late Robert O’Brien, the late Ronald O’Brien, the late Alan O’Brien, who is survived by his wife Janice O’Brien of Pelham, NH and the late Cheryl O’Brien. He is also survived by JoAnne’s special cousins Pamela Yeadon and her husband Barry and their children, Linda Clifford and her wife Patty, Kevin Clifford and his wife Brenda, Mark Clifford and his wife Christine, Paul Clifford and his wife Anna, Robert DiGloria and his wife Ginny, Dennis DiGloria and his wife Diane, his many loving nieces and nephews, his cherished Godchildren, his best friend Tom and his wife Anne and his longtime neighbor and friend Dottie and her late husband Dick.
Visiting hours, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be held on Friday, February 20th from 4:00-7:00 P.M. at the Norton Memorial Funeral Home, 19 Clapp Street (Off Route 140, Taunton Avenue) Norton.
His funeral will begin on Saturday, February 21st at 9:00 A.M. from the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:00 A.M. in Saint Mary’s Church, 1 Power Street, Norton. Burial with military honors will follow at the Pine Haven Cemetery, 84 Bedford Street in Burlington.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Paul’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or to the New England Center and Home for Veterans, 17 Court Street, Boston, MA 02108.
To send his family a message of condolence, please visit www.nortonmemorial.com
Dateline: Norton, MA
Paul H. O’Brien, age 82, of Norton, formerly of Wellesley, Natick and Cambridge passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at the Hope Health Hospice Center in Providence. He was the beloved husband of JoAnne (Lovejoy) O’Brien, to whom he was wed for nearly sixty-one years.
Born in Cambridge, MA on February 17, 1943, he was a loving son of the late William E. and Elizabeth R. (Rivers) O’Brien.
Paul grew up in the City of Cambridge and was a graduate of the Cambridge Rindge & Latin School. Prior to retiring, he enjoyed a successful career, that spanned thirty-two years, in Pension Accounts at John Hancock in Boston. He had made his home in Norton since 2003 and formerly resided for many years in Wellesley, Natick and Cambridge.
Paul’s greatest joys in life were family, friends and loyalty to his country. A member of the United States Army National Guard, he proudly served for thirty-nine years, retiring with the rank of Sergeant First Class. He was a member of the 114th Medical Battalion, a Mess Stewart, sooner became an Ambulance Platoon Sergeant and was then assigned to the 26th Infantry Division DISCOM. He was later assigned to MEDCOM, where he retired from in 2003. Following retirement, he worked as a Military Contractor till 2015.
Since living in Norton, Mr. O’Brien was a communicant of Saint Mary’s Church, where he faithfully served as a Eucharistic Minister and as a member of Saint Mary’s Council, Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the American Legion Post 221 in Bedford and a life member of the 26th Yankee Infantry Division Veteran’s Association. When younger, Paul was a member of the Lieutenant Norman Prince Drum & Bugle Corps and proudly participated and competed in many concerts and competitions.
Paul was always happiest when surrounded by his adoring family and lifelong military service friend Tom Ardita. He enjoyed traveling to many places with his wife and best friends Tom and Anne, their favorite point of destination being Aruba where they vacationed for twenty-three beautiful years. He and JoAnne also shared many fond memories while on a two-week European River Cruise while celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Paul also enjoyed socializing with the many people he met during his life, dining out, dancing, attending theatrical plays and when younger, the wonderful and relaxing summers spent with his parents and siblings in Old Orchard Beach, Maine
In addition to his wife, he was the devoted father of Lauren A. Ares of Norton and the late Steven A. O’Brien, who recently passed away on June 14, 2025. He was the adoring grandfather of Patrick Ares and Daniel Ares, both of Norton and the great grandfather of Emma, Abry, Alayna, Austyn and Kolton. He was the dear brother of Kenneth O’Brien and his wife Barbara of Milton and the late William O’Brien, who is survived by his wife Annette O’Brien of Holbrook, the late Robert O’Brien, the late Ronald O’Brien, the late Alan O’Brien, who is survived by his wife Janice O’Brien of Pelham, NH and the late Cheryl O’Brien. He is also survived by JoAnne’s special cousins Pamela Yeadon and her husband Barry and their children, Linda Clifford and her wife Patty, Kevin Clifford and his wife Brenda, Mark Clifford and his wife Christine, Paul Clifford and his wife Anna, Robert DiGloria and his wife Ginny, Dennis DiGloria and his wife Diane, his many loving nieces and nephews, his cherished Godchildren, his best friend Tom and his wife Anne and his longtime neighbor and friend Dottie and her late husband Dick.
Visiting hours, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be held on Friday, February 20th from 4:00-7:00 P.M. at the Norton Memorial Funeral Home, 19 Clapp Street (Off Route 140, Taunton Avenue) Norton.
His funeral will begin on Saturday, February 21st at 9:00 A.M. from the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:00 A.M. in Saint Mary’s Church, 1 Power Street, Norton. Burial with military honors will follow at the Pine Haven Cemetery, 84 Bedford Street in Burlington.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Paul’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or to the New England Center and Home for Veterans, 17 Court Street, Boston, MA 02108.
To send his family a message of condolence, please visit www.nortonmemorial.com
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