John Deasy Jr., Owned Local Catering Company, Dies at 87

The following is from Dello Russo Funeral Home.

John W. Deasy Jr., of Woburn, formerly of Arlington, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 9, at the Life Care Center in Stoneham following a lengthy illness. He was 87 years of age. John was the beloved husband of Irene (Patalano) Deasy and the late Anne V. (Gannon) Deasy. Born in Revere, he was the only son of the late John W. Sr. and Mary A. (MacIntosh) Deasy.

John was raised and educated in Arlington where he was member of the Arlington High School Class of 1944. During his senior year, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and honorably served from 1944-1946. While in the Navy, he served as a Motor Machinist Mate Second Class with the Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 16 in the South Pacific and the Philippines aboard PT Boat 299. He was the recipient of the WWII Victory Medal, American Area Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Asiatic Pacific Area Medal with 3 Bronze Stars and the Philippine Liberation Medal with 1 Bronze Star.

Upon his return home from the Navy, John worked as an auto mechanic for a number of years until he began his own catering business, the Mary A. Deasy Catering Co. of Arlington. He owned and operated the business for many years through 1973. He then took a position as Operations Manager with the Seiler Corporation of Waltham, a food service vendor, until his retirement.

In his leisure time, John enjoyed golfing and traveling. However, nothing gave him more joy than doting over his grandchildren and spending time with his family.

In addition to his wife Irene, John is survived by his sons: John W. Deasy III and his wife Linda C. of Maynard, Robert E. Deasy Sr. and his wife Kathryn of North Falmouth and James A. Deasy and his wife Nadine A. of East Falmouth. He was the loving grandfather of Kathleen Vizen, Mark, Colleen, Robert, Michaela, Matthew, Marybeth and Michael Deasy. He was also the loving great grandfather of Sofia Vizen, Cameron and Mia Deasy. He is further survived by his stepdaughter Janice Baker and her husband Theodore of Reading and was the brother of the late Anna Stella.

Funeral services will be held from the McLaughlin-Dello Russo Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant St., WOBURN, Thursday, Feb. 13, at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Barbara Church, 138 Cambridge Road, Woburn, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours at the funeral home will be held on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. Services will conclude with military honors and burial at St. Patrick Cemetery, Stoneham.

It has been requested that in lieu of flowers contributions may be made in John’s memory to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, Sixth Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226.