Roland W. “Rab” O’Mara, Jr, 86, of Gardner, died peacefully Tuesday, March 6, 2018 in Heywood Hospital of Gardner, following a long illness.
Born in Orange, MA on June 23, 1931, he was the son of the late Roland W. O’Mara, Sr. and Alma (French) O’Mara.
Roland graduated from Orange High School with the Class of 1949.
He was a United States Korean War Air Force Veteran, and received the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Roland was employed by Matria Healthcare of Marietta, GA as a Mail Room Clerk and Delivery Man for several years, retiring in 2007. He was previously a Foreman for Simplex Time Recorder of Gardner for 17 years, and a Salesman for Prudential Insurance Company in Massachusetts and Georgia.
Roland was a member of Annunciation Parish/Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church of Gardner. He was also a Third Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus of Georgia, and was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars of Georgia.
Roland enjoyed fishing, Games of Chance and dancing. He loved sports, and enjoyed playing tennis. Roland was a great family man who treasured spending time with his family.
He leaves his wife of 60 years, Lola A. (Ares) O’Mara of Gardner; one son, Michael O’Mara and his wife Jill of Medway; two daughters, Maureen Schnare and her husband Dennis of Templeton, and Martha Franklin and her husband Richard of Gardner; two sisters, Rowena Thomson and her husband Alison “Tom” of Athol, and Frances Phillips and her husband Lou of Newburgh, NY; six grandchildren, Kerry-Ann Prentice and her husband Evan, Michael Chiasson and his wife Becky, Tyler Chiasson, Stefani Munoz, Meredith O’Mara and Garrett O’Mara; three great-grandchildren, Mikayla Nichols, Aiden Nichols and Ava Chiasson; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, March 16th from the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner with a Mass at 11:30 a.m. in Annunciation Parish/Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner. Burial with full Military Honors will be in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 111 Glenallen Street, Winchendon.
A calling hour will be held Friday, March 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Gardner Community Action Committee, 294 Pleasant Street, Gardner, MA 01440.