Obituary of Joseph Gillis

Joseph S. Gillis, a resident of Woburn and Burlington, passed away on October 10, 2009 at The Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley in Billerica with his family at his side. The husband of the late Mary (Donahue) who passed away in 1981, he was 84 years old. Joe was the son of the late James Angus Gillis and Anne Margaret (MacEachern). Joe answered the call of duty at the age of eighteen when he enlisted in the Army. He was stationed in Saipan in 1944 where he was the recipient of the Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Campaign Ribbon. When he returned from the service he became a member of the Teamsters Union Local 25 and worked for several local firms including BF Goodrich and Hood Rubber companies. Joe and Mary moved the family to Burlington in 1964 where he enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. He often spoke of a family trip to Margarite Harbor, Cape Breton Nova Scotia in 1999 where he showed his family the church that his father had built. He enjoyed being outdoors and marveled at the stars in the night sky of Prince Edward Island. In his later years he developed many friendships at the Campbell St Apartments in Woburn and was especially close to Jean Rooney who helped him greatly. Joe spent his final years at The Life Care Center in Billerica where the residents and staff became as close to him as a second family. Joe will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Joe is the beloved husband of the late Mary (Donahue) who passed away in 1981. He was the loving father of Jane Dunbar & her husband Lawrence of Townsend, Mary Corbett & her husband John of Burlington, Eileen Cudmore & her husband Paul of Woburn, Joseph S. Gillis Jr & his wife Sally of Tewksbury and Patrick Gillis of Woburn. He was the loving grandfather of Erin, Shannon, She’lagh, (currently serving her second tour in Iraq) & Maggie Dunbar; James, Kerry, John Jr & Justin Corbett; Amanda, Paul Jr & the late Kyle Joseph Cudmore and Hannah & Jared Gillis. Great grandfather of Maura. Joe was the brother of Kay McWilliams, Joan Keenan, Lawrence & Herbert Gillis & the late Anne Ruell, Martina Duffy, Loretta Bertelon, Jean Callahan & Rose Mulhern. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St Burlington (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 10:00 am. Followed by graveside services at Woodbrook Cemetery, 100 Salem St., Woburn at 11:00 a.m. Visiting hours Tuesday 4:00 to 8:00 pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to “Homes for our Troops”, 6 Main St., Taunton, MA 02780 www.homesforourtroops.org