Lawrence J. "Larry" Kelleher, 83

(Editor's note: The following obituary is provided courtesy of

Lawrence J. "Larry" Kelleher, age 83, a retired Everett Police officer, died Thursday morning, December 8, at the Sawtelle Hospice House in Reading after a three month battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband of the late Roberta E. "Bobbie" (Gallagher) Kelleher, who died in 1996.

He was born in Somerville, May 6, 1928, the son of the late Cornelius J. and Helen (Falvey) Kelleher, was raised in Everett, where he lived most of his life. He retired to Hallandale, Florida, and returned to Tewksbury in 2004.

During WWII, he served in the U.S. Navy, as a shipboard cook on the USS Roy in the Asiatic-Pacific War Theater.

He worked as an Everett Police Officer for 31 years, and retired as Patrolman in 1980.

As a Tewksbury resident, he was a communicant of St. William's Church, and a member of the Tewksbury D.A.V. Post 110. He was also a member of both the Veteran of Foreign Wars and American Legion Posts in Hallandale, FL.

He was the devoted father of six children, the late Patricia and her husband John McGrath, Lawrence R. Kelleher of Lowell, Lynne Birchett and her husband James of Tewksbury, Roberta Pietrello of Tewksbury and her late husband Charles, Cornelius J. "Neil" Kelleher and his wife Lorretta (Doucette) of Everett, Colleen Carroll and her husband John of Methuen; twelve grandchildren, Patricia Birchett, John McGrath, Reed Kelleher, Jenna Kelleher, Merissa Kelleher, Lawrence Kelleher Jr., Sheena Kelleher, Cassie Kelleher, Samantha Pietrello, Amanda Pietrello, Cal Carroll and Nicole Carroll; three great grandchildren, Cameron, Avery, and Macie; and several nieces and nephews.

He was also brother of the late Kathleen Allegra.

Visiting hours Monday, Dec. 12, from 4 to 8 in the funeral home. His funeral will begin in the funeral home on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. in St. William's Church, 1351 Main St. (Rte 38) Tewksbury. Burial will follow at Puritan Lawn Cemetery in Peabody.