Obituary for Thomas O'Brien Jr.
Thomas A. O’Brien, Jr., 78, of Enfield, formerly of Somers, beloved husband of Carole (Rzasa) O’Brien, devoted father to seven sons, and caring grandfather to nineteen adoring grandchildren, entered into Eternal Rest on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at Johnson Memorial Hospital. Son of the late Betty (Campbell) O’Brien and Thomas O’Brien, Sr, he was born in Hartford on September 3, 1942.
Tom and Carole met in the late 1950’s working the local tobacco farms so prominent at that time in the Enfield area, marrying in July 1964 and settling in town to start and raise their family. They later moved to Somers where they resided for over 30 years. Tom was employed as a Chemistry Technician at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory based out of CT. He was active in his community as a member of the Somers Volunteer Fire Department, the Tolland County 4H, and helped to organize the Somers recreational swim team through work with the Windsor Locks Water Jets. He also had many hobbies; he was an avid collector of stamps, coins, and baseball cards, and he was the family genealogist, obtaining historical photos to chronicle the family lineage. Tom also loved the many animals he and his wife raised on the family farm in Somers.
Above all else, Tom’s greatest love was his family. In addition to his loving wife of over 55 years, Carole, Tom is survived by his sons, Thomas III and his wife Lisa of Saratoga Springs, NY, David and his wife Jennifer of Wilbraham, MA, Daniel and his wife Andrea of Brookfield, IL, Timothy and his wife Laura of Tolland, Tod and his wife Erin of Wilbraham, MA, Dennis and his wife Kellyann of Wilbraham, MA, and Ted and his wife Erin of Somers. Tom is also survived by his grandchildren, Julia, Tommy, Kathleen, Jack, Ali, Nick, Tim, Maura, William, Katherine, Faith, Eva, Benjamin, Nathan, Liam, Desmond, Makenna, Kayla, and Eric; his sisters, Judy Porcello and her husband John of Enfield, and Kathy Wright and her husband John of VT; his brother, Stephen O’Brien and his wife Margaret of Guilford, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family. The family would also like to give a special thank you to the staff at evergreen healthcare center and Johnson memorial hospital who gave wonderful care to Tom over the past several years.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Tom at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at St. Bernard Church, 426 Hazard Avenue, Enfield. There are no calling hours. Please meet directly at the church. Burial will follow at St. Bernard’s Cemetery. Masks and social distancing are required of all attendees. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom’s memory may be made to the Somers Volunteer Fire Department, 400 Main St, Somers, CT 06071. For online condolences, please visit www.leetestevens.com.
Tom and Carole met in the late 1950’s working the local tobacco farms so prominent at that time in the Enfield area, marrying in July 1964 and settling in town to start and raise their family. They later moved to Somers where they resided for over 30 years. Tom was employed as a Chemistry Technician at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory based out of CT. He was active in his community as a member of the Somers Volunteer Fire Department, the Tolland County 4H, and helped to organize the Somers recreational swim team through work with the Windsor Locks Water Jets. He also had many hobbies; he was an avid collector of stamps, coins, and baseball cards, and he was the family genealogist, obtaining historical photos to chronicle the family lineage. Tom also loved the many animals he and his wife raised on the family farm in Somers.
Above all else, Tom’s greatest love was his family. In addition to his loving wife of over 55 years, Carole, Tom is survived by his sons, Thomas III and his wife Lisa of Saratoga Springs, NY, David and his wife Jennifer of Wilbraham, MA, Daniel and his wife Andrea of Brookfield, IL, Timothy and his wife Laura of Tolland, Tod and his wife Erin of Wilbraham, MA, Dennis and his wife Kellyann of Wilbraham, MA, and Ted and his wife Erin of Somers. Tom is also survived by his grandchildren, Julia, Tommy, Kathleen, Jack, Ali, Nick, Tim, Maura, William, Katherine, Faith, Eva, Benjamin, Nathan, Liam, Desmond, Makenna, Kayla, and Eric; his sisters, Judy Porcello and her husband John of Enfield, and Kathy Wright and her husband John of VT; his brother, Stephen O’Brien and his wife Margaret of Guilford, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family. The family would also like to give a special thank you to the staff at evergreen healthcare center and Johnson memorial hospital who gave wonderful care to Tom over the past several years.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Tom at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at St. Bernard Church, 426 Hazard Avenue, Enfield. There are no calling hours. Please meet directly at the church. Burial will follow at St. Bernard’s Cemetery. Masks and social distancing are required of all attendees. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom’s memory may be made to the Somers Volunteer Fire Department, 400 Main St, Somers, CT 06071. For online condolences, please visit www.leetestevens.com.