Shrewsbury – John F. Gilchrist Jr., 85, longtime Shrewsbury resident, passed away Monday, April 13, 2015, with his family gathered at his bedside.
John was born in Worcester, the son of John F. Gilchrist Sr. and Mary E (Finnegan) Gilchrist. He graduated from St. John’s High School, Worcester Campus, and joined the U.S. Army, serving his country proudly during the Korean War. Upon his return from service, John met and, in 1957, married the woman who would become the love of his life for the next 57 years, Patricia A. Sherman. They settled in Northborough where they lived many years before moving to Shrewsbury 16 years ago.
He began his working years by accepting a job with the General Motors assembly plant in Framingham where he worked for more than 25 years, and retired from the EDS Division. He then accepted a position as a computer operator at the Perini Construction Company for another 10 years before retiring.
John is survived by his wife, Patricia; his son, Michael T. Gilchrist and his fiancée Barbara J. Boulanger of Shrewsbury; and his daughter, Patricia A. Arcure and her husband John of Oxford; a sister, Jean Murphy and her husband Phillip of Cumberland, R.I.; two grandchildren he adored, Ryan Clifford and Stephanie Clifford; and a multitude nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
John was a member of St Mary Church. He was an avid reader, well known to the Shrewsbury Public Library where he would sign out up to eight books a week. He loved to travel, tend his yard and garden, and the beaches of Maine in the summer. His joy was his family, he was proud of his grandchildren, whom he watched before and after school for many years, attending all their activities, sporting events and involvements. They were his pride and joy.
John’s family would like to extend their deepest thanks to the care of the doctors and nurses of UMass Medical Center ICU Unit on the sixth floor, and especially RN Margaret and RN Rebecca.
Friends and relatives are invited to calling hours Friday, April 17, from 4-7 p.m., in the Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. His funeral will be held Saturday, April 18 from the funeral home with a procession to St Mary’s Church, 640 Main St., Shrewsbury, where his celebration of life funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shrewsbury Public Library, 214 Lake St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545.
