MILLBURY Richard F. Phelan, 67, of 4 Laurel Dr., died Saturday, Oct. 4, in Millbury Health Care Center, after a long illness.
His wife Mary E. (Doherty) Phelan, died in 1993. He leaves behind two loving daughters, Melissa J. Cote of Millbury and Deidre A. Chaves of Hudson, Three grandchildren, Nicholas and Jack Chaves and Meghan Mary Cote, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and multitude of friends. A brother, John Phelan, of New Seabury, predeceased him. Born in Worcester, he was the son of the late Susan (Curry) Phelan and the late Edmund Phelan. He was a graduate of St. JohnTM)s High School, the College of the Holy Cross in 1957 and later received his masterTM)s degree at Worcester State College.
Dick worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, at the Bureau of Special Investigators in both Boston and Worcester. He officially retired in 2002. He was also a former Oxford High School teacher and later worked at the Worcester Housing Authority during the 1970TM)s.
Active in politics and community affairs, he served on the Democratic Town Committee, where he was elected Democrat of the year in 2001. He was a charter member of the Millbury LionTM)s Club, where he received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. He also received a special honor in 1990, when he received the key to the city of Worcester. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, where he reached the level of Third Degree Knight. A devout Catholic, he served as lector at St. BrigidTM)s Church in Millbury. He was a former member of the Millbury Housing Authority and a member of the Millbury Council on Aging.
Dick was an outstanding golfer. He was a founder of the golf team at Holy Cross and a finalist in the Junior National Golf Championship in Ohio. In the late 1960TM)s he was the golf pro and former co-owner of the Rt. 9 driving range in Westboro. Dick took special pride in the fact that he had played on many of the most famous golf courses in the world. Mr. Phelan was also a champion handball player at Green Hill in Worcester. He was also an avid fan of both the Boston Red Sox and Boston Celtics.
Dick was known for his outstanding personality and his love of life. He never hesitated to do favors for others and was always willing to help a friend in need. He made people laugh and always had a good story to tell. Dick will be sadly missed by all his friends and especially by his family.
The funeral will be held Wednesday, Oct. 8, from Mulhane Home for Funerals, 45 Main St., with a Mass at 10 a.m. in St. BrigidTM)s Church, 59 Main St. Burial will be in St. BrigidTM)s Cemetery. Calling hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Millbury Lions Club, P.O. Box 385, Millbury, Mass. 01527. The Millbury Lions Club will conduct a ritual at 6 p.m. Tuesday night at the funeral home.
Read Richard Phelan's Obituary and Guestbook on mulhane.com.
His wife Mary E. (Doherty) Phelan, died in 1993. He leaves behind two loving daughters, Melissa J. Cote of Millbury and Deidre A. Chaves of Hudson, Three grandchildren, Nicholas and Jack Chaves and Meghan Mary Cote, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and multitude of friends. A brother, John Phelan, of New Seabury, predeceased him. Born in Worcester, he was the son of the late Susan (Curry) Phelan and the late Edmund Phelan. He was a graduate of St. JohnTM)s High School, the College of the Holy Cross in 1957 and later received his masterTM)s degree at Worcester State College.
Dick worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, at the Bureau of Special Investigators in both Boston and Worcester. He officially retired in 2002. He was also a former Oxford High School teacher and later worked at the Worcester Housing Authority during the 1970TM)s.
Active in politics and community affairs, he served on the Democratic Town Committee, where he was elected Democrat of the year in 2001. He was a charter member of the Millbury LionTM)s Club, where he received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. He also received a special honor in 1990, when he received the key to the city of Worcester. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, where he reached the level of Third Degree Knight. A devout Catholic, he served as lector at St. BrigidTM)s Church in Millbury. He was a former member of the Millbury Housing Authority and a member of the Millbury Council on Aging.
Dick was an outstanding golfer. He was a founder of the golf team at Holy Cross and a finalist in the Junior National Golf Championship in Ohio. In the late 1960TM)s he was the golf pro and former co-owner of the Rt. 9 driving range in Westboro. Dick took special pride in the fact that he had played on many of the most famous golf courses in the world. Mr. Phelan was also a champion handball player at Green Hill in Worcester. He was also an avid fan of both the Boston Red Sox and Boston Celtics.
Dick was known for his outstanding personality and his love of life. He never hesitated to do favors for others and was always willing to help a friend in need. He made people laugh and always had a good story to tell. Dick will be sadly missed by all his friends and especially by his family.
The funeral will be held Wednesday, Oct. 8, from Mulhane Home for Funerals, 45 Main St., with a Mass at 10 a.m. in St. BrigidTM)s Church, 59 Main St. Burial will be in St. BrigidTM)s Cemetery. Calling hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Millbury Lions Club, P.O. Box 385, Millbury, Mass. 01527. The Millbury Lions Club will conduct a ritual at 6 p.m. Tuesday night at the funeral home.
Read Richard Phelan's Obituary and Guestbook on mulhane.com.
A service summary is not available