Shrewsbury – Hank Harrington was a very ordinary, plain, no frills kind of guy. Hard working, industrious, creative and loyal might best describe him. He died at home peacefully with his family gathered by his side Monday, Oct. 12, 2015. He was 92. A life well lived. In heaven he is rejoined with his wife of 63 years, Mary A. (Lane) Harrington, who died July 11, 2012. Perhaps Mary had his favorite meal awaiting his arrival to heaven….creamed chip beef on toast.
Henry W. Harrington Jr., lovingly known to family and friends as Hank, was born Sept. 13, 1923 in Haverhill, a son of the late Henry W. and Amy (Snell) Harrington. He left school at a young age to help his mother take care of the home. Henry honorably served his country in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After marriage to Mary A. Lane Feb. 19, 1949, they lived in the communities of Holliston, Hudson, and Southborough before settling in Sudbury, where they lived over 30 years. While in Sudbury, they maintained a farm in which they raised Appaloosa horses. They moved to Shrewsbury in 2001.
Early on in his career, he worked for Long Cadillac and Pell Pontiac. He took a position with his brother-in-law’s company in Framingham, A.J. Lane Construction, a well-known and respected developer in Metrowest, where he worked until age 80. He began as construction superintendent and later became the company vice president. He always worked long hours to provide for his family.
He and Mary loved to travel….trips to Ireland and their most favorite Antigua. Hank was a professional tinkerer and wasn’t easy to part with anything. Perhaps as a result of growing up in the depression he valued things that became his own through hard work. He had a fascination with cars and an untrained ability to fix most anything under the hood. In later years he was known to read three newspapers while listening to Irish or country music. His sweet tooth enabled him to spoil the grandkids, who would be within arm’s reach of one of his many candy dishes.
He leaves his children, Kathleen E. Heinecke, Sheila A. Harrington, Henry W. Harrington III and his wife, Maureen, all of Shrewsbury, Nancy R. Young and her husband, James, of Northborough, Michael D. Harrington and his wife, Nancy, of Shrewsbury; his grandchildren, Amy M. Walsh, Paul E. Lirette Jr., Kert W. Heinecke, Heather Collazo, Holly Young, Buddy Harrington, Christen Lydon, Matthew M. Heinecke, Jennifer Bauman and Michael D. Harrington Jr.; his great-grandchildren, Tiffany A. Lirette, John Debraga, Jeanne Debraga, Kelsie Heinecke, Jason Collazo, Jordan Cummings, Alissa Gonzalez, Jocelyn Young, Grant Walsh and Camilla Walsh, Gianna Barthley Heinecke, Logan Cummings Heinecke, Jackson Bauman, Connor Lydon, Kyleigh Lirette, Michael D. Harrington II and Jacob Harrington; his great-great grandchild, Junie Lopez Jr; many nieces and nephews including Beverly DeBraga of Hudson and Richard T. Lane Jr., of Sudbury, whom he and Mary considered their own. His sister was the late Ruth Hancock.
Family and friends will honor and remember Hank’s life by gathering for calling hours Sunday, Oct. 18, from 4-7 p.m., at Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center, and again Monday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary’s Church, 640 Main St., Shrewsbury, where his funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Saint Patrick Cemetery, Natick.
Memorials in his name may be made to VNA Care Hospice, 120 Thomas St., Worcester 01608 or Worcester Animal Rescue League, 139 Holden St., Worcester, MA 01606.
