William P. Callahan

William Patrick Callahan passed away on March 1, 2024 at Regal Health Care after successfully beating liver cancer back for 3 years, only to have it return and have no further options for treatment. He was one month shy of his 64^th Birthday. The final phases of Bill’s cancer battle overlapped with his younger brother Jimmy’s brain cancer struggle for the past several months. In hospice care, Bill came to be closer with his brother, as he frequently asked how he was doing and wanted to be at his side.    

Bill is survived by his daughter Kerstin Desjardins and granddaughter Mckenzie Desjardins of Texas. He leaves behind his longtime companion Lynne Narbut of North Attleboro as well. Bill was the second oldest son in a family of eight Callahan children. He is also survived by his remaining five siblings and their significant others; John Callahan and his wife Sue of Millbury, Jean Callahan Hanley of Millbury, Michael Callahan and his wife Jennifer of Oxford, Lori Callahan of Millbury, and Kerri Callahan Couture and her husband Robert of Oxford as well as several nieces and nephews. Both of his parents, John and Carol Provencher Callahan, predeceased him. His brother James Callahan just recently passed on April 13, 2024 and his brother Steven Callahan passed in 2013. 

Bill worked for a number of area construction companies. He was known for having an imposing body frame with large hands, shoulders and biceps! Such body strength was physically tested daily, since he did bull work hauling construction materials for all kinds of large commercial jobs. For many years, he also worked setting up rebar and pouring forms for concrete foundations. His younger brothers often called upon him to use his sheer physicality as a deterrent to defend them against potential altercations that they might find themselves embroiled. 

As a young man, Bill worked for a traveling Carnival for a number of years. He was both a “jointie” who set up and operated games, and a “ride jock” who built and operated rides. He was always very animated when he spoke about his years becoming a “carnie” and his experiences traveling to other states.

Bill was raised in Sutton. In his youth, he played competitive sports such as soccer, baseball and basketball. He loved being part of a team and doing his part to play everyone’s best game together. He was a very athletic young man with amazing ball instinct. As a Goalkeeper for the Fuller Hamlets Soccer Team, he used such physical awareness in aggressively defending the net against the opposition’s goals and penalty shots. Likewise, on the Sutton Basketball Team, he had exceptional boxing out and rebounding skills. As an adult, Bill also enjoyed playing in recreational horseshoe and softball leagues.

Throughout his life, friends and family always found Bill to be both an entertaining and energetic storyteller. He had an uncanny ability to capture the most interesting details about events and experiences. He always knew how to covey such details with animated expression in a way that captured other peoples’ attentions. 

He was certainly a jovial spirit and everyone wanted to hang out with him or be a friend of Bill’s. No matter where he lived or visited, Bill had a unique gift of becoming an almost defacto mayor. He quickly would know all kinds of credible information about a place, town or person in an incredibly short time because he talked and listened to people in earnest. Because of his charismatic energy, his friends nicknamed him “Taz” after the prominent Tasmanian Devil tattoo he had on his bicep. It was always revealed because he was a perpetual wearer of A-shirts with jeans and shorts and nobody walked with such swagger like Bill when he came through a door, except the Tasmanian Devil himself! 

Bill loved spending time with friends, but loved spending time with his family more, especially after experiencing a traumatic brain injury sixteen years ago. Despite experiencing impairment to some cognitive and short-term memory capabilities, Bill was aware enough to want to spend quality time with family. He especially wanted to visit with and support his younger brothers, Steve and Jim during their illnesses. 

In his fight against cancer, Bill was hopeful and often humbled, to be able to share his life with his family and friends. He was always expressing his gratitude for the support he received from his brothers Mike and Jack over the years as well. When he came to visit family, he was frequently bearing small gifts as tokens of his appreciation of the support and love he received. Bill was a one-of-a-kind friend, brother, son, companion and kindred spirit, whose vibrant soul will be missed by all.

Calling hours for Bill will be held jointly with his brother Jimmy’s on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 from 5:00PM to 7:00PM at Mulhane Home for Funerals, 45 Main Street in Millbury. A private family burial will held on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at the Millbury Central Cemetery, 47 Waters Street.

In lieu of flowers, an online gift to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute or the Jimmy Fund in memory of Bill to support cancer research and patient care can be made at either: 

www.dana-farber.org/gift  or www.jimmyfund.org/gift.