James Patrick O’Brien

Surrounded by family, Jim passed away peacefully on the evening of Friday March 27th in his home, which with his beloved late wife Cattie, he had always opened to family, friends and all those in need of a good meal and a warm bed. Jim was born on July 17, 1933, in Detroit Michigan son of John and Rose (Quinn) O’Brien, first generation Irish immigrants from Cork and Donegal respectively. In addition to his Catholic faith, Jim passed along a great pride of his Irish roots and gratitude for the tremendous sacrifices his immigrant parents made so that he and his siblings could have an opportunity at a better life in America. Jim is survived by his children Rosie O’Brien, Catherine O’Brien, Martha Hahl, James (Janine) O’Brien, Bridget (Mark) Moriarty and Sheila (Steve) Giblin as well as his sister Rose Bridgeman of Anchorage, AK. Jim was a loving grandfather to Quinn, Manny, Chris, Grace, Isabel, Mia and Bridget. The brother of the late Jack and Vince O’Brien, the late Madge Stockdale.

He and his brothers attended Catholic Central High School. After graduating, Jim attended the University of Detroit before he enlisted in the Marines. He was sent to at Camp Pendleton before being stationed in Japan. After he was discharged, he earned an accounting degree at Iona College. With degree in hand, he moved to New York City where he joined his two brothers and sister, Rose.

In the early 60’s, he left New York and volunteered with the Catholic Extension Society and was sent to northeast New Mexico. It was there that he met Father John McHugh, SOLT. Father John repeatedly invited him down to the Mora Valley where his order had a church and a school with religious and lay volunteers. When he finally accepted the offer, he visited and for the first time caught sight of his anam cara, Cattie McCarthy, chopping wood in a long army coat. Jim and Cattie were married on November 28, 1963 in Holman, NM.

In 1973, Jim and his brother Jack purchased Buffalo Mack, Inc. on Jefferson Ave. Jim moved his family of six from Springfield, MA to East Aurora. He lived for the next 53 years in East Aurora where two more daughters joined the family. He and Cattie were active members of Immaculate Conception parish and their community.

Jim often repeated two altruistic sayings later in his life. The first was “family is everything.” When asked to explain this in his final days,’ he said “when everything else falls apart, your family is there to help you through whatever you’re going through. We don’t pick our bumps, they’re just there and with a family we somehow get through them.” His second precept was “Sufficient is a feast.” Being born to immigrant parents during the Depression, he had learned how to get by with little. He related with humor a story about how he and his brothers attended a party in high school where they were welcomed to eat as much as they wanted. He remembered a person pointing at them and saying, “Look at those skinny boys eat!”

He will be remembered by his children as a father who would do anything for his children. He took his job to raise and protect his children seriously. He believed in his children’s potential, lauding their victories, and catching them when they fell. At the end of his life, he was cared for by his children and a few benevolent aides. He had lived as a safety net for his family and at the end of his life, the net came full circle. Having never had a safety net, he relaxed and made his visitors laugh and relax with his quick wit. He will be remembered as a man who gave far more than he ever took.

Family will receive guests at 10 AM on Saturday, June 20th at Immaculate Conception Church, 520 Oakwood Ave, East Aurora, NY where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM. Flowers gratefully declined. If desired, contributions can be made in Jim’s memory to the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, Harvest House, St Luke’s Mission of Mercy, or Immaculate Conception School.