Edward J Cleary

Edward J. "Easy Ed" Cleary, 90 of Worcester passed away peacefully Monday, February 17, 2014 with family gathered by his bedside. Edward was born in Shrewsbury, a son of Irish immigrants Patrick and Mary J. (Sullivan) Cleary. He grew up in Shrewsbury on the former Brewer Estate and as a teenager moved to the Lakeview neighborhood of Worcester. He graduated from North High School in the class of 1941. In 1943, Edward joined the U.S. Army to serve his country proudly in the European theatre during World War II. During the War, Ed took part in the battles of Roma, Arno, and North Apennines earning the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in battle. He returned home, married his sweetheart, Margaret "Peg" (Fleming) Cleary and together lived in the Cleary family home where they raised their four sons. Edward's wife Peg passed away in 1998 after 45 years of marriage. He is survived by his four devoted sons, Thomas J. Cleary and his wife Paula, John P. Cleary and his wife Mary, Robert E. and James G. Cleary all of Worcester; his former daughter-in- law, Marilyn Cleary; six grandchildren he adored: Sean, Laura, Bryan, Kathleen, Michael and Thomas; nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. A sister, Mary Kitchen and brother, Paul Cleary pre-deceased him. Ed worked as a Letter Carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Worcester for over 32 years, many of them in his own Lake View neighborhood. Edward was a member of the former St Margaret Mary Church, the National Association of Letter Carriers Union, the Greendale Men's Club at the Greendale YMCA, and the DAV Chapter #4 in Worcester. An avid tennis player, he enjoyed the game well into his eighties. As a young man, he enjoyed engaging the neighborhood children in evening games of baseball. Later, he was a common fixture at local sporting events. He was a man of faith; carrying his WWII issued Bible through the fox holes of Italy to his local parish, where he never missed mass. Ed found the moments he spent with his wife and children, the best of his life. They were his inspiration and made him the proudest and happiest with them around him. Friends and relatives are invited to visit with the family Thursday, February 20th from 4 pm to 7 pm in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St. Ed's funeral will be held Friday, February 21st from the funeral home with a procession to St George Church, 40 Brattle Street where his Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 am. Burial with Military honors will follow in St John's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Ed's name can be made to the Holy Trinity Employee's Christmas Fund or the Holy Trinity Rehabilitation Center, 300 Barber Ave Worcester 01605.