John J. Sirois

John J. Sirois died May 17, 2008. He was the son of the late Ludger and Germaine (Schelling) Sirois of Lawrence, MA and one of 14 children. His father Ludger was born in St. Germain Kamouraska, Canada and his mother was born in St. Norbert, Darthabaska, Canada. John graduated from Sacred Heart Grammar School and completed his studies at the Oblate Novitiate in Bucksport, Maine. He later joined his father working at the Ludger Sirois Construction Company and eventually owning his own contracting company, John J. Sirois Construction Company on Water Street in Lawrence, MA. John was appointed the Building Commissioner for the City of Lawrence in 1974 and retired in 1991 because of health issues. John was very involved with local politics & especially during Mayor John J. Buckley and Mary Claire Kennedy's tenure. John spent many years building creative floats for the Santa Clause & St. Patrick's Day Parades. John was very proud of his French heritage, family and being a union carpenter. There was nothing John could not build or repair with his large working hands. He was a man who believed strongly in his Catholic Faith and began and ended each day reciting the Rosary. John was past president of the Lawrence Builders Association, a member of St. Vincent de Paul Society, Holy Family Men's Guild, Knights of Columbus, and Elks Lodge #65, Lawrence Planning Board and the French Social Club in Lawrence, MA. He was a loyal friend and helped anyone he could along life's way. He enjoyed skiing, golfing, dancing and swimming. When John was at any social function he made sure everyone who sat at his table had a drink and enjoyed the evening with his many stories and jokes. Since 1999 John has spent his time at home inflicted with eye disease and then diagnosed in 2004 with Alzheimer's disease. He was admitted to the Lawrence General Hospital on April 30th, 2008 and then transferred to the Wingate at Andover on May 6th, 2008. His family extends a heartfelt thanks to the H5 Staff at the Lawrence General Hospital for their concern and dedication as well as to the caring, giving and professional staff at Wingate who ensured his last days were comfortable and dignified. John is survived by his loving and devoted wife Cynthia whom be met while both were employed by the City of Lawrence. They were married on September 16, 1988 and would have celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary this September. He is also survived by his five children from a previous marriage: His son John and his wife Michelle Sirois of Maine, his daughters: Jane and her husband Michael McDonald of Florida, Laurie Sirois of Lawrence, MA, Mary Lou and her husband John Greige of Lawrence, MA, and Lisa and her husband Vahe Ghazarian of Windham, NH. 12 grand children and many nieces and nephews. He also survives three sisters and three brothers: Sr. Marie Germaine, SUSC and Madeleine Fluet of Lawrence, Germaine and her husband James Sheehan of Haverhill, MA, Louis J. and his wife Yvette, Philip and his wife Beverly all of Andover, and L. Francis and his wife Janice of Amesbury, MA. He is survived by his mother-in-law Barbara Sweeney, and his sister-in-law Janice Cerullo and her husband Joseph his, brother-in-law Michael Sweeney and his wife Pamela and their daughter Gwendolyn, two nephews Jay Cerullo and his wife Heidi and their two children Kaylee and Jake. Eric Cerullo and his fianc‚' Carla Bernabell. Cynthia's family loved John and is broken hearted by his loss but cherish their many years of happy times with him, Cynthia thanks her family for their time and devotion to him. A special thanks to his dedicated friend Leo Sicard who drove him to Mass each week and to their St. Vincent Meetings. John enjoyed Leo's visits and their French speaking conversations. John was predeceased by his brothers and sisters: Fr. George Sirois, OMI, Joseph F. Sirois, Sr. Rachel Sirois, SUSC, Marguerite Beaulieu, Marie Martha Marchand and Pauline Ichton. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, May 23rd, 2008 At 10:00AM at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish at St. Augustine Chapel, 128 Ames Street, Lawrence, MA. A burial will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Lawrence, MA. Friends may call on Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 from 4:00PM to 7:00PM at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home Inc. 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, MA. 01841, for more information or to send online condolences go to: www.breenfuneralhome.com. Memorials can be made in his name to: Boston University Alzheimer?s Disease Center, Attention: Catherine Pfau , 715 Albany Street - Robinson 7800, Boston, MA 02118, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish 22 Plymouth Street Methuen, MA, 01844 or to Perkins School for the Blind, Perkins Trust Office, 175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472.