Peabody


James D. Cronin, 77, of Peabody, formerly of Salem, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2011, from complications of Parkinson's disease. He was surrounded by his wife of 55 years, Mary (Lynch) Cronin, and their four children.


Born July 3, 1933 in Salem, Jim was the son of the late Salem Police Officer Jeremiah Cronin and his wife Mary (Manning) Cronin. After graduating Salem High School, he went on to study at Petersons School of Engineering. Joining the Coast Guard during the Korean War, he served aboard the Cutter McCulloch in the North Atlantic. Upon his honorable discharge he began his 38 year career in the U.S. Postal Service in Salem. During his years in the Postal Service he served as Treasurer of the local chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers and President of the Northeast Federal Credit Union. Jim was a devout member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Salem/Peabody where he served as a Eucharistic Minister, was a member of the Parish Council and the Spiritual Committee. He was also an active member of the Parkinson's Support Group of Greater Boston. For many years he lived life to it's fullest enjoying traveling, golfing, swimming, and his beloved Red Sox. Throughout the 15 years he lived with Parkinson's, he took all the challenges in stride and in his later years he was the model of strength and courage in the face of a cruelly debilitating disease.


In addition to his wife, Mary, he is survived by his four children; Maureen Cloutier and her husband William of New Milford, CT, Cathleen O'Brien and her husband Robert of Rockland, MA, James Cronin, Jr. and his wife Linda of Peabody and Elaine Bombaci and her husband William also of Peabody; 8 grandchildren, Captain William Cloutier, III, USAF and his wife Brooke of Eielson AFB, AK, Cara and Kyle Cloutier, Kevin and Kaitlyn O'Brien, Mark Cronin and Connor and Brian Bombaci; also two great grandsons, Conor and Brandon Cloutier. He is also survived by his sister Geraldine Castonguay and her husband Albert of Salem and their three children.


His funeral will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 9:15 AM from the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St. (cor of North St) Salem to be followed by a funeral Mass at 10:00 AM in St Thomas the Apostle Church, 260 North St., Salem. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be Friday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Salem.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Parkinson's Disease Association, 72 East Concord St. C3, Boston, MA 02118 or Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St. Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. For online guest book or additional information please call 978 744 0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.