William T. Gildea

A Funeral Mass for Retired Watertown Firefighter William T. “Bill” Gildea will be held on Thursday December 19, 2024, at 10 AM in the Church of St. Patrick, Watertown.

Bill passed away surrounded by his loving family at home in Watertown Thursday evening at the age of 94.

Bill was an Air Force veteran serving from 1948 to 1952. He joined the Watertown Fire Department in 1959, retiring in 1991, after 33 years of dedicated service. While there, Bill worked at headquarters on Main Street in Watertown driving the hook and ladder truck with his co-worker, the late Arthur (Lefty) Burgess, as his tiller man.

Bill joined the Ancient Order of Hibernians in 1956 serving as president of Division #14 and president of the building as well as club steward, a position he held for more than ten years. Some of Bill’s accomplishments at the Hibos included reviving bingo in the early 70’s, organizing the annual golf tournament, attracting the largest number of members to “The 150 Club” a charitable fund raiser for scholarships and organizing many Christmas parties and events that were held at the Hibos.

Bill was an avid golfer participating in several charitable golf tournaments yearly. He organized the Watertown Fire and Police tournament as well as the AOH annual Golf tournament for many years and played his final round of golf with Billy, Maribeth and Julie this past September.

Bill loved their yearly summer vacations to Hampton Beach surrounded by family and was fortunate to be able to enjoy several trips later in life to Orlando, Marco Island, Charleston, Savannah and Hilton Head with his children.

Bill was the beloved husband of the late Mary E. (Gray) Gildea and the loving father of Susan Calden & her late husband Kevin of Watertown, William Gildea, Jr. (Retired WFD) & his late wife Maura and his girlfriend Anita Chapman of Newmarket, NH, Patricia Kennedy her husband Bernard of Derry, NH, Maribeth Gildea & her wife Julie Anderson of Newmarket, NH, and Laura Morrison & her husband Robert of Framingham. Dear brother of the late James A. (Barbara), Doris M. McCarthy (Joseph), Gladys A. Walsh (John), John H., Jr. (Jean), Robert J. (Harriet), Mary R. Mosley (Lou), Ruth F. Thibaut (Thomas), Francis P. (Janet), Elizabeth Robertson (Robbie), and Margaret A. Morash (Charles). Loving grandfather of Jennifer Sims (Robert) of Revere, Christopher Calden (Caitlin) of Weymouth, Kathleen Gildea (Adam Tam) of Acton, Lauren Gildea of Maynard, Brigid Williamson of Arlington, Bernard Kennedy (Victoria) of Chelmsford, Brian Kennedy (Rachel) of Shrewsbury, Kaitlyn Kennedy (Travis Hom) of Worcester, Brendan Kennedy of Derry, NH, Sean Morrison of Framingham, & the late Liam Gildea. Also survived by doting great-grandchildren: Camryn Calden, Kiera Tam, Haley Sims, Kellan Tam, Zoey Kennedy, Mackenzie Kennedy, and Addison Sims along with many nieces & nephews.

Funeral from the MacDonald Rockwell & MacDonald Funeral Home at 270 Main St. Watertown Thursday December 19, at 9 AM followed by Funeral Mass in the Church of St. Patrick 212 Main St., Watertown at 10 AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours Wednesday 4-8 PM. Interment St. Patrick Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Billy’s memory may be made to the AOH Div. 14 Watertown Scholarship, PO Box 11 Watertown MA 02471

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