OXFORD – Paul D. O’Reilly died on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at the Rose Monahan Hospice Residence in Worcester. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jean M. (McKenney) O’Reilly of Oxford; two sisters-in-law, Barbara O’Reilly of Oxford, and Judy O’Reilly of South Carolina; four nieces, Patricia O’Reilly and her husband Jon Harper of Georgia, Jean E. O’Reilly and her husband Ian Jentle of London, England, Susan Lawrence of South Carolina, Maureen Wattson and her husband Matthew of South Carolina, and Christine Cox and her husband Jason of South Carolina; five grand nieces and nephews, Crystal Dubert, Nicole Lawrence, Reilly Cox, and Brady Cox, all of South Carolina, and Robert Weston of Massachusetts; and several cousins, including Roy Ziegengeist of Virginia. He was predeceased by three brothers, Shane O’Reilly, Brian O’Reilly, and Michael O’Reilly; a sister, Patricia O’Reilly; and two nieces, Dawn Marie Weston and Kathleen O’Reilly. He was born in Franklin in 1926, son of the late Bernard and Erna (Ziegengeist) O’Reilly. He moved to Dracut, Newport, NH, and North Adams as his father advanced in the woolen industry, finally settling in Oxford many years ago. He attended Towle High School in Newport, NH, and graduated from Drury High School in North Adams. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II and served on airfields in Kansas and Texas.
Once he moved to Oxford, Mr. O’Reilly learned to weld from Frank Robbins, and they went into business together as Robbins and O’Reilly Inc. Later, he worked for Hanes Welding and in the Quincy Naval Shipyard, before founding O’Reilly Welding in Oxford, which he owned and operated throughout his life. He also worked for the Henley Lundgren Company, fabricated large molds for the L&L Concrete Company, and worked for several other contractors throughout his career. He was a master welder and felt that the more challenging a project was to him, the more he enjoyed the task.
Mr. O’Reilly was a faithful member of St. Roch’s Catholic Church in Oxford for many years, and enjoyed sitting at the men’s table for coffee and donuts after Mass each week. He was a former member of the American Legion Post 58 in Oxford and a longtime member of the Operating Engineers Local 4 Union. He held several patents, including a patent on a woodburning furnace named the “Shane,” and a silt fence support system. Later in life, he went back to night school at Bay Path to learn woodworking.
Mr. O’Reilly enjoyed motorhome trips around the country and Canada, especially along the coast of Maine and throughout South Carolina to visit relatives each year. He hosted an annual cookout for 30 years for Henley Lundgren employees. He made long-lasting friendships wherever he lived and was happiest when his family was gathered together in his home. He had many loyal, long-lasting friendships, including the Alfred Cermanero and George Bushika families of North Adams.
Paul’s family would like to thank Care Central V.N.A. and Hospice, and the Rose Monahan Hospice Residence, for the exceptional care given to him.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at St. Roch’s Church, 332 Main St., Oxford. Those attending are respectfully requested to meet directly at the church. Burial will be held privately at St. Roch’s Cemetery in Oxford. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Paul D. O’Reilly Welding Award, c/o Webster Five Cent Savings Bank, 343 Main St., Oxford, MA 01540. Paradis-Givner Funeral Home in Oxford is directing the arrangements.
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
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St. Roch's Church
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