Ernest “Ernie” D McNamara Jr. a resident of Melrose for the past 47 years, passed away peacefully on October 17, 2018 at Winchester Hospital from complications with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).
Son of the late Ernest D McNamara Sr & Elizabeth (McNeil) McNamara. Beloved brother of Paulina F Curran and her husband John J Curran Sr. Survived by his nieces and nephew: Kimberly Curran, Tracy (Curran) Smith and her husband Robert; Michelle Curran, Irene Curran, John J Curran II, his wife Karen (Johnson) Curran, and three great-nieces: Briana Curran, Shauna Curran, and Marissa Curran. Also leaving behind many dear lifelong friends and extended family in the Canadian Provinces.
Ernie was born on July 11, 1939, in Boston, MA where he grew up and was graduated from Christopher Columbus High School. While in high school, he began working at Cutter Hardware in Roxbury, MA and then enlisted in the US Army. Following an honorable discharge, he began working at Commercial Union Insurance. He started in the mailroom worked his way to the Data Processing Department where he stayed until his retirement in 1999. He enjoyed meeting his former co-workers post-retirement for quarterly lunches at area restaurants. He was an avid New England sports fan and a former season ticket holder with the Patriots, and Bruins. He loved walking the local beaches and taking road trips with his nieces and nephew all over New England and Canada. He relished his time with family around his favorite holidays: Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. He genuinely appreciated the people in his life, had a great sense of humor, and was a practical joker. It was this mindset that helped him get through his courageous battle with MSA over the past few years.
Family and friends will honor Ernie’s life by gathering in A. J Spadafora Funeral Home, 865 Main St, Malden on Tuesday October 30, from 4PM-8PM and again at 9AM on Wednesday morning. We will leave in procession to the Church of the Incarnation 429 Upham Street, Melrose for a funeral mass to be celebrated in his honor at 10AM. Interment will follow at Mount Benedict Cemetery, W Roxbury.
In honor of Ernie’s love for sports, feel free to wear your favorite sport’s team shirt. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Ernie's memory to the Michael J Fox Foundation www.michaeljfox.org/parkinsons/disease The Family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at AllCare VNA, Winchester Rehabilitation and Nursing Center as well as Winchester Hospital, for their compassion and their care.