Kerry Ann O'Brien

Kerry Ann O’Brien, age 54, of Walpole, passed away on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Born in Boston, MA, she was the daughter of Agnes M. (O’Leary) O’Brien and the late Paul A. O’Brien.

Kerry had a special relationship with her family - her Dad, grandparents, brothers Stephen and Paul and sister Jeanne, and her Godparents Don and Maureen O’Driscoll. Kerry loved music and dance from early on and loved stage and musical performances.

She was educated in the Braintree school system, graduating from Braintree High School, and enjoyed school activities.

She loved taking dancing lessons from Young World in Quincy and then was part of her sister-in-law, Kenda’s, dance group for those with different abilities. She performed at events in and around the Phoenix, Arizona area.

Kerry also loved traveling near and far. She visited England, Ireland and other countries in Europe, her brother in Arizona, her nephews in Colorado, and her Godparents in Florida. She also loved camping with her dad, shopping with her mom, taking long walks around Bird Park and Adams Farm in Walpole, going to Canobie Lake Park, Disney World, on cruises with family and friends, and spending time with her mom and her mom’s close friends at the Weston Priory in Vermont.

Her eyes would open wide, with arms outstretched, to give whoever she was greeting with a warm embrace and joyful enthusiasm. She was truly loving and loved.

Kerry’s life was enriched by her participation in the following programs: Road to Responsibility (RTR) in Braintree and Marshfield, Jewish Family & Children’s Services in Canton (CHAI WORKS), and Open Sky Community Services in Wrentham. These programs promote community access, and independence to those who live with developmental and physical disabilities.

A special thank you is extended to all the wonderful friends, teachers and caregivers, especially to her primary doctor, Brian Cohen, who she met along the way. In her last months of life, a special thanks goes to those who provided Kerry with such amazing care at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham. She had a rich, fulfilling, and extended life because of all of you.

Kerry is survived by her mother Agnes O’Brien of Walpole. She is predeceased by her father, the late Paul O’Brien (Nov. 1994.) Kerry is also survived by her siblings, Stephen O’Brien and his wife Yulia of Hanson, Jeanne O’Brien Pike and her husband Jeremy of Wallingford, Connecticut, Paul O’Brien and his wife Kenda of Phoenix, Arizona, and her nieces and nephews: Graeme (and his wife Leah), Emmet Pike, Shaeleigh and Colin O’Brien, Liam O’Brien and her great niece Amelia Pike.

Visiting Hours will be held in the Gillooly Funeral Home, 126 Walpole St. (Rt.1A) NORWOOD, on Sunday, December 14, 2025, from 2 - 5 PM. A Visitation will be held the following morning, Monday, December 15, 2025, from 9-10 AM in the Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Timothy’s Church, 650 Nichols St., Norwood at 10:30 AM. Interment will be held privately at the request of the family at Massachusetts National Cemetery at a date to be determined.

Expressions of sympathy may be made in Kerry’s memory to The Arc of Massachusetts, 217 South Street, Waltham, 02453 or give on line: www.thearcofmass.org/donate.