Russell Douglas O'Blenes II

Russell (Russ) D. O’Blenes II, 63, passed away Monday February 1, 2010, at home after a courageous three-year battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband of Judith A. (Fraher) O’Blenes with whom he shared 43 years of marriage.Born and educated in Lynn, Russ was a lifelong and proud resident of the city and a graduate of Lynn English High School, Class of 1963. He was the son of the late Russell and Francesca (Arena) O’Blenes. Family, friends and country always came first for Russ, with cars and his Harley close behind. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, son and brother, there for his family in every important way. As his many friends know, Russ was fiercely loyal and most happy when he was doing for others. And always, he was a patriot of great passion and conviction.Russ was a Vietnam-era veteran who proudly served in the Air Force from 1965 to 1969. A year of his service was spent overseas in Thailand.For 45 years, Russ was a valued employee of General Electric at its Lynn River Works plant. He began as a crane operator and went on to serve in a series of increasingly challenging positions, most recently as a jet engine analyst. Russ was also a well regarded high performance engine builder. His business – Russ Performance- was widely known and respected by racing enthusiasts in the region. Russ is survived by his wife Judith; his two children, a son Russell III and his wife Mary of Michigan and a daughter Stephanie Wilson and her husband Jamaal of Lynn; his four grandchildren Darren, Faith, Simone and Zoe Wilson; his sisters Carole O’Blenes of New York City and Tina Greene and her husband Michael of Lynn; his sister-in-law Patty Gates and her husband Bob and brother-in-law Jay Fraher and his wife Kristin; and many nieces and nephews.Service Information: Visiting hours will be Thursday, February 4, 2010 at the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, 157 Maple Street, Lynn from 4 to 8 pm. Funeral from Cuffe-McGinn Friday at 9 AM. Funeral Mass at Holy Family Church at 10 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Interment will be private. Donations in his honor can be made to Dana Farber Multiple Myeloma Research (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th floor Brookline, MA 02445-7226 ATTN: Contribution Services) or The Fisher House of Boston providing support for families of wounded warriors (Fisher House Boston, PO Box 230, South Walpole, MA 02071).