Obituary of William B. McMakin

William B. McMakin, a man of deep faith and devoted to his family peacefully passed away at the Lahey Hospital & Medical Center on September 22, 2017 with his loved ones by his side. He was 84 years old. Bill was the beloved husband of the late Mary V. (Rock). Bill was born in Braintree, the son of the late John and Helen McMakin. He grew up in Randolph. Bill was a graduate of Boston College High School, class of 1950. He went on to graduate with his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering Management from Northeastern University. Bill was Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in Signal Corps USAR August 5, 1955. Active Duty: November 12, 1956 - May 11, 1957. Member of the Army Reserve 1957-1963 and Honorable Discharge with Rating of Captain in 1963. Bill had a successful career as an Electrical Engineer. He began his career at Bendix Radio in Maryland and then had a long and distinguished career at Sylvania/GTE for over 32 years. On an outing to Cape Cod organized by the Newman Club Bill would be introduced to Mary Rock. They married on April 26, 1958 and lived in Woburn. In 1961, they moved to Burlington where they would raise their three daughters. As a Dad, Bill was very involved in his daughter’s lives and was always there for them along with their Mom, Mary. The daughters have cherished childhood memories. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchild who brought him so much joy. There was a special bond between each of them. Family gatherings are treasured memories by them all. One of his favorite things was traveling around in his motor home with his wife. Their favorite destinations were Shrines. Bill had recently made a visit to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the National Centre for Padre Pio in Pennsylvania with his daughter, AnnMarie. He loved the Boston sports teams, most especially the Red Sox and Patriots. The family would gather to watch them play. He enjoyed gardening and grew a variety of vegetables. Bill also enjoyed golfing and bicycling. He had a great sense of humor and loved a good joke. Bill was a man who was passionately devoted to his Catholic faith. His faith was central to his life. He accepted and obeyed with love and humility all the doctrine of the Catholic Church. He integrated the Catholic Church into every corner of his life. Although he was a parishioner at St. Margaret's in Burlington he visited other churches for daily Mass and a daily hour of Eucharistic Adoration. Along with attending St. Margaret's, Bill could be found at St. Charles in Woburn, St. Patrick's in Stoneham, St. Joseph' s in Wakefield, Carmelite Chapel in Peabody and St. William's in Tewksbury. Bill had taught 4th grade religious education at St. Margaret’s Church. Bill was an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister for the Woburn Nursing Home. Bill was a member of the monthly All Night Eucharistic Vigils in Boston for vocations and sanctification of the Priesthood. He was a member of the Eucharistic Adoration team for St. Eugene de Mazenod Perpetual Adoration Chapel at St. Williams in Tewksbury. Bill championed the cause of the Pro-Life movement with Rosary vigils at Planned Parenthood in Boston. He was part of Fr. Tom DiLorenzo's Radio Ministry, &quote;In Season and Out of Season&quote;. He would visit friends at the St. Jeanne Jugan Residence run by the Little Sisters of the Poor on a weekly basis. Bill was a Lifesong Disciple of Jesus as a member of the Lifesong Healing Community in Sherman Mills, Maine. He was a Missionary Servant of Holy Love, affiliated with Holy Love Ministries in Elyria, Ohio. Bill attended Padre Pio Prayer groups. He loved attending healing Masses and Fr. Pat concerts at the LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro. Bill had attended Bible Study Classes at St. Charles in Woburn and Saint Joseph’s in Wakefield and recently at the St. Joseph the Worker’s Shrine in Lowell. Bill will be remembered as a man who was guided by faith and loved his family and friends. Bill was the beloved husband of the late Mary V. (Rock). Loving father of Mary “Ginger” Franchitto of Woburn, AnnMarie McMakin of Burlington, and Theresa Ann “Terry” Tremblay & her husband John of Burlington. Devoted grandfather of Brandon, Nathan, & Victoria Franchitto and Brittany, Terese, Monique, & Jacquelyn Tremblay. Great grandfather of Camron Tremblay. Brother of Elizabeth Whalen of Abington, Arthur McMakin of Somerset and the late Robert, John and Sister Mary Jane McMakin, SCN. A visitation will be held at the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Thursday, Oct. 5 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at Noon. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, BURLINGTON. Memorials in Bill’s name may be made to In Season and Out of Season, P.O. Box 602, East Boston, MA 02128 www.inseason.net or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 220 North Main St., Suite 104, Natick MA 01760 www.cff.org