Obituary: William R. O’Brien

June 2, 1930 – January 26, 2022

Celebration of Life planned for May 21

Please join the family of Bill O’Brien to celebrate his busy and full life at the American Legion Post 59, at 16 Stowe St. in Waterbury on Saturday, May 21, from noon to 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided. 

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William R. "Bill" O'Brien

William R. O’Brien died peacefully at the McClure Miller Respite House Wednesday, January 26, 2022. He was born on June 2, 1930, to the late Harry H. O’Brien and Alice (Grace) O’Brien. 

He grew up in Waterbury, Vermont,  and graduated from Waterbury High School in 1949. Bill  married Lorraine Cutler on December 26, 1950 at St. Augustine’s Church in Montpelier, Vermont. At that time he was with the Vermont National Guard, 43rd Division stationed at Camp Pickett, Virgina. The division was called to active duty  during the Korean War. 

After his discharge, Bill went to work for Green Mountain  Power at the Little River Dam project. He later transferred  to their power plant in Essex Junction, Vermont, where he and Lorraine then moved in August 1953. In July 1965, Bill went to work for IBM and retired from there in 1990.

In his free time, Bill enjoyed sugaring and working in the woods, as well as traveling, walking, reading, family gatherings, and spending time at the family camp on Lake Eden.  

Bill was predeceased by Lorraine in 2015 after 64 years of marriage. 

He is survived by his children William O’Brien, Jr. and his wife Barbra, Michael O’Brien and his wife Lynn, Richard O’Brien and his wife Linda, all of Fletcher, Vermont; Patricia Breen and her husband Sean of Sierra Vista, Arizona, and Kathryn Morgan and her husband Jim of Essex Junction; grandchildren Carrie O’Brien (Corey Bobba), Celia O’Brien, Justin O’Brien, Kelly Lucci (John), John O’Brien (Alexandra), Joanna Morgan (Daniel  Bonner), Christine Morgan (Matt Ahearn), Billy Morgan (Isabel), and Daniel O’Brien (Nikki Noble), Kyle Crofts  (Tiffany Reed), and Corey Crofts; great-grandchildren  Collin and Giovanni Lucci, Yuri and Misha O’Brien, Calvin Bonner, Kasen and Lennox Crofts. 

He also leaves brothers Harry O’Brien, Charles O’Brien and his wife Georgia of Waterbury; sister Kathleen Lumbra of Waterbury Center; brother-in-law Marcus Cutler of Punta  Gorda, Florida; sisters-in-law Marguerite Orr of Essex, and Florence Morse and her husband Elliott of East Montpelier; several nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Along with Lorraine, Bill was predeceased by his  daughter-in-law Kathy Laird O’Brien, granddaughter  Kimberly Rose O’Brien; sister Mary Magee and her  husband Robert; sisters-in-law Louise O’Brien, Blanche  Cutler, Kathryn Cutler, Yolunda Cutler, and Charlotte  Cutler; brothers-in-law Harold Cutler, Jim Cutler, Robert  Cutler, Franklin Cutler, Albert Cutler, Alden Orr, and  Joseph Lumbra.

Bill’s family would like to express gratitude to the medical staff at the McClure Miller Respite House for their kind and compassionate care during Bill’s stay. 

Donations in Bill’s name may be made to Essex Rescue or the UVM McClure Miller Respite House. 

Services will be private at a later date in the Eden Corners Cemetery in Eden, Vermont.