William J. Orphan

Mr. Orphan served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II as a tail gunner on a B17. His plane was shot down over Germany and he was subsequently held as a P.O.W. in Krems, Austria for 18 months. Mr. Orphan was a firefighter with the Town of Norwood for over 40 years and served as a Captain when he retired in 1989. On April 23, 1978, he was appointed as a temporary Deputy Fire Chief for the Norwood Fire Department. He was an artist, photographer, painter and enthusiastic model airplane builder, flying them in competitions. He was an avid Red Sox and New England Patriots fan.

He was the beloved husband of the late Dorothy Jean (Gorman) Orphan; loving father of Beverley Barzin and her husband Leon of Westwood, James Orphan and his wife Mae of Walpole, and William Orphan and his wife Margaret of Lakeville; devoted grandfather of Alexis and Margaux Barzin, Stephanie Orphan, and Jarred Orphan; brother of the late James, Peter, and George Orphan. He was also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 10 at 9:00am from the Gillooly Funeral Home, 126 Walpole Street (Rte. 1A), Norwood, and at 10:00am at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 547 Washington Street, Norwood, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Interment with military honors will follow the Mass in Highland Cemetery, Norwood. The family will receive visitors on Monday, April 9 from 4:00-8:00pm at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions in memory of William J. Orphan may be made to the MSPCA-Angell, 350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130.

Our family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful women of Vista Care Hospice of Southboro, MA and Atlantic Nursing and Homecare of Braintree for the wonderful care you gave our Dad. You gave him peace, kindness and love in his last days at home.