Francis P. “OB” O'Brien, formerly of Worcester, MA died peacefully, surrounded by his family in Summerville, SC on May 9th, at the age of 74. Fran is survived by his wife of 29 years, Helen Kontulis O'Brien; his son Kevin and wife Rebecca of Summerville and their children, Perry, Margaret, Mary Katherine, Molly and June; his stepson Mark Kontulis and his life partner Mario Sybers. He leaves his five sisters, MaryEllen Thorpe and her husband, Donald, Eileen Stupik, Ann Marie White and her husband, Thomas, Kathleen Gaffney and her husband, Thomas and Noreen Hanlon; four brothers, Terrence O'Brien, Timothy O'Brien and his wife, Sheryl, Joseph O'Brien and his wife, Traci and James O'Brien and his wife, Michele.
Fran was born in Worcester, the eldest of 10 children, the son of Patrick and Mary (McTigue) O'Brien. He graduated from St. Peter's HS in 1962, attended Worcester Junior College and served in the US Army Reserves. He retired in 2011 from Metso Automation formerly Jamesbury Corporation as a Marketing Manager after 30 years of service. This year, Fran and Helen moved to South Carolina to be closer to Kevin, Rebecca and the grandchildren. Fran's greatest gift of all, was spending time with them and proud to be their Papa in his final days.
Fran enjoyed golf, the Patriots and talking sports with Perry. He was a life member and past treasurer of the Leicester Rod and Gun. He was passionate about the friends made through his accomplished career of marketing industrial valves, especially his friend J.W. He enjoyed his golf trips to Ireland and Atlantis, FL with his lifelong friends, Paul Bottis, Andrew Fesuk and those who passed before him, Sean McCue, Franny Gibbons and Robert Murphy. He was magnanimous but humble, gracious but modest and was known to say 'Yes' “to just one more”!
His funeral is Monday, May 21st from O'CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue, with his funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m.in the church where Fran was Christened, Our Lady of the Angels, 1222 Main Street. Inurnment will follow in St. John's Cemetery Mausoleum. Calling hours Sunday May 20th from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Adopt-A-Student Program, c/o Diocese of Worcester, 49 Elm Street, Worcester, MA 01609 or to the charity of your choice.