Joseph Patrick Day, Jr., passed away peacefully and surrounded by his children on August 16, 2022, at the age of 87. Joe was predeceased by the love of his life, Mary (Winn) Day, who passed away in May 2021 after 59 years of a joyful marriage. Joe and Mary were the center of a sprawling community of family and friends, regaling all who met them with hilarious stories and leaving them with heartfelt memories.
Joe dedicated his life to helping others. Everyone knew that when in trouble or need, Joe was the one to call. Whether rushing to court for a client, reaching into his pocket for a friend, offering sage advice to someone in crisis or gently correcting a child's grammar, Joe had an unmatched ability to gracefully extend a helping hand that made everyone feel loved and appreciated.
The eldest son and the sixth of eight children, Joe was born to Joseph P. and Evelyn (Hooper) Day. After graduating from Woburn High School as Class Vice President in 1952, Joe served honorably in the United States Navy during the Korean War and later received his bachelor's degree from Merrimack College, where he earned the distinction of being the only two-time solo ice hockey captain in the program's history. Joe then taught high school English during the day while earning his law degree from Suffolk Law School at night. He was a former Alderman-At-Large for the City of Woburn, first assistant District Attorney for Middlesex County under D.A. John Droney and confidant of Governor Endicott Peabody. He was a leader in many charitable and social endeavors in Woburn and served as past president of the Woburn Host Lions Club.
Joe was the patriarch of the Day clan and will be deeply missed by his children and grandchildren, who have modeled their lives after the examples set by their parents: Tracy Day and her husband Brian Greene; Joseph "Joda" Day and his wife Dawn; Kerry Day; Francie Day Degen and her husband Matthew; the late Timothy Day; Michael Day and his wife Megan; Megan Day Henaghan and her husband John. Joe was supremely proud of his grandchildren: Alec and Sophia Greene; Cecilia Day; Seamus, Devon, Murphy and Norah Degen; Conor, Ryan and Finnegan Day; and Caitlin, Jack, Kerry and Michaela Henaghan. Joe was the loving brother of the late Catherine Bondi, Mary Murphy, Frances Sheridan, Joan Gilmartin and Jean D'Entremont, and he is survived by his treasured brothers, James Day and John Day. He also leaves behind scores of nieces and nephews who loved him dearly.
Visiting hours will be held at the McLaughlin-Dello Russo Family Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant St., Woburn, MA, Friday, August 19th, from 3 to 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 280 Main St., Woburn on Saturday, August 20th, at 11:30 a.m. Services will conclude with Military Honors and burial at Calvary Cemetery, Woburn. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made in Joe's memory to Neurofibromatosis Northeast at https://nfnortheast.org/donate-to-nf/ or to the Alzheimer's Association of MA/NH at www.alz.org/