Desmond “Desi” Henry O’Halloran, 76, died Dec. 24 in Milton Hospital after a lengthy illness.
Born in Ballinsloe, Ireland, he lived in Jamaica Plain and Dorchester before moving to Milton 20 years ago.
He was raised and educated in Ireland before he came to America, became a U.S. citizen, served in the Army, met and married his wife, and started his family in Jamaica Plain.
He always had a kind word, a small offering of nourishment and a piece of sound advice for everyone he met. Mr. O’Halloran would often appear from around the corner, an impish smile on his face, stand erect as he could and proudly recite an entire poem or limerick he had learned as a child. His audience would beam back at him in amazement as he completed his speech, turned on his heals and disappeared again.
He was a devoted caregiver and his loved ones’ hearts are heavy despite the comfort of knowing he is with his wife in the eternal life.
Mr. O’Halloran was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Mary O’Halloran, only 25 days earlier.
He is survived by his children, Michael O’Halloran, of Dorchester, Marie White and her husband, James, of Quincy, Patricia McKeen and her husband, Mark, of Quincy, Joan Dhimitri and her husband, Stephen, of Braintree, Paul O’Halloran and his partner, Wade Fox, of Atlanta, and Kevin O’Halloran, of Milton; his siblings, Mary Queally and her husband, Joseph, of Milton, Eileen Austin, Agnes Mahoney, Frances McManus, John O’Halloran, and Joan Brooks, of Ireland, England and Wales; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was the brother of the late Nora O’Halloran, Joseph O’Halloran, Kathleen Manning and
Rita Colahan.
A funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Agatha Church on Dec. 29. Burial was private.
Arrangements were by the Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home.