John F. Whalen Sr., 80
GREAT BARRINGTON - John F. "Hink" Whalen Sr., 80, of Egremont Road died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008, at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.
Born in Hartford, Conn., on June 9, 1927, the son of Joseph P. and Louise Merwin Whalen, he attended Lee schools
and graduated from Lee High School in 1946.
An Army veteran of World War II, he enlisted on Sept. 27, 1946, and was honorably discharged on Jan. 17, 1948, and received the World War II Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal, Japan. He resided in Great Barrington for many years, more recently spending winters in Venice, Fla.
Mr. Whalen was employed as a driver first by B&P Transportation and then for 28 years by Old Colony Transportation,
retiring in the late 1970s. For the next 10 years, he was self-employed as a caretaker throughout the Great Barrington area.
A family man who was happiest when with his wife and children, he enjoyed fishing, ice fishing, hunting and restoring old cars and tractors. A generous man, he was always willing to help others and was a member of John A. Modolo VFW Post 8348.
His wife, the former Joyce D. Wylie, whom he married on July 16, 1955, in Winter Park, Fla., died Sept. 16, 2007.
He leaves a daughter, Susan Whalen Frechette and her husband, Christopher, of Harvard; two sons John Francis Whalen Jr. of Windham, Main, and Thomas Whalen and his wife, Kim Harwood Whalen, of Great Barrington; five brothers, Joseph Whalen of Tyringham, Robert Whalen of Lee, David Whalen of Lee, Raymond Whalen of Stockbridge and William Whalen of Cohoes, N.Y.; a sister, Margaret Martel of Manchester, N.H., three grandchildren, Alec, Adam and Nicholas, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
He was predeceased by two brothers, Donald and Michael Whalen, and another sister, Elizabeth Norman.
FUNERAL NOTICE - Funeral services for John F. Whalen Sr. will be held on Friday, Jan. 18, at 11 a.m. at Finnerty and Stevens Funeral Home in Great Barrington, conducted by the Rev. Dan Papineau, MIC, pastor of St. Mary's Church in Lee. Burial will follow at Mahaiwe Cemetery in Great Barrington.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, Jan. 17, from 4 until 7 p.m. at funeral home.
Donations may be made to the James A. Modolo VFW Post 8348 Scholarship Fund in memory of Mr. Whalen or to the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Foundation through the funeral home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230.
Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com/