Richard J. "Rick" Shay
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, in law and friend;
Richard J. "Rick" Shay, age 66, of Dracut, formerly of Lowell, died Friday morning at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of Virginia M. "Ginnie" (Demers) Shay with whom he recently celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, March 8. 1949, the son of the late Joseph M. and the late Florence M. (Harris) Shay, he attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School in the Class of 1967. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Rick was a proud member of the U.S. Marine Corps. In his younger years, Rick fought in the Greater Lowell Golden Gloves and later became a loyal fan and a season ticket holder. Prior to his retirement, Rick worked for the City of Lowell at the Department of Public Works with the Street Department as a laborer for over 40 years. An avid sports fan, he especially liked following the New York Mets and the Denver Broncos. Rick also enjoyed bowling, antique car shows and vacationing in Las Vegas. Besides his wife, he is survived by a daughter Jennifer Delossantos and her husband Marvin and two grandchildren Sophia and Ava Grace Delossantos all of Copiaque, Long Island, NY; a sister Kathleen Simon of Dracut; a brother David M. Shay and his wife Maria of Lowell; three sisters in law Andrea DeAngelis and her husband Michael of Lowell, Mary Doster and her husband Jim of Tyngsboro and Ruth Demers and her partner Fiona MacDonald of Tewksbury; five brothers in law Andrew Demers and his wife Marlene of FL, Phillip Demers and his wife Jane of Dracut, Fred Demers and his wife Donna, Bob Demers and his husband Juan Alvarez of Tewksbury and Jimmy Demers and his wife Tammy of Lowell; many nieces and nephews. He was also the brother of the late Joseph M. Shay, Jr., uncle of the late Erika M. Shay and son in law of the late Andrew M. Demers and Virginia E. (Morris) Demers.
Friends may call at the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. at Fletcher from 4 to 8 P.M. Monday. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Mass to be celebrated Tuesday morning at ST. PATRICK CHURCH in Lowell at 10 o'clock. Burial will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery. E-condolences/directions at odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the Merrimack Valley Hospice House, 360 North St., Haverhill, MA. Arrangements by Funeral Directors James F. O'Donnell, Jr. and John W. Crane (978 or 866) 458-8768.
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