Lawrence M. "Larry" O'Brien

Lawrence Martin “Larry” O’Brien, 91, of North Canton, formerly a longtime Dennison resident, passed away on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at St. Luke Lutheran Community in North Canton after a brief illness. Born August 21, 1921 in Dennison, he was a son of the late David L. and Margaret Rose (Cudahy) O’Brien.

Larry was a graduate of Dennison’s Immaculate Conception High School in the class of 1939 before serving his country in the U.S. Army during World War II, seeing action in North Africa and Italy. While living in Dennison, he was a member of Immaculate Conception Church, but having lived in North Canton for over fifteen years, he was most recently a member of Little Flower Catholic Church in North Canton. Upon returning home from the army, Larry began a twenty year career with the Pennsylvania Railroad with whom he attained the position of engineer. He most enjoyed his second career as an agent for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, helping many others along in the field, until his retirement in 1978 after twenty years of dedicated service to his clients, co-workers and company. Throughout the rest of his life, he looked forward to the reunions with his friends from the army that he faithfully attended and spending time with his extended family.

On June 18, 1949, Larry married the former Helen Mary “Dolly” Carmola with whom he celebrated sixty-three years of loving marriage. He is also survived by their children, David Lawrence (Toni) O’Brien of Thorndale, Pa., Terrance “Terry” (Sue) O’Brien of Dublin, O., Deborah J. Simonetti of North Canton and Patrick M. (Lynda) O’Brien of Lancaster, O.; grandchildren, Daniel (Emily) O’Brien, Timothy (Sarah) O’Brien, Stephen O’Brien, Stephanie O’Brien, Terry “Toby” (Colleen) O’Brien, Michelle (Cody Crnkovich) O’Brien, Jason (Hind) Simonetti, Nicole (Jason) Brewer, Michael (Abby) O’Brien, Matthew O’Brien and Mitchell O’Brien; great-grandchildren, Connor, Desmond, Darcy, Clementine, Cleona, Taya, Kaitlyn, Samuel, Eryn, Kaylee, Andrew, Lucia and Charlie; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Charles “Chuck” Simonetti; sister, Julia Hildebrand-Fulton; brothers, Francis “Jerry” and Daniel O’Brien; and several young siblings.

Services for Larry, officiated by Father Anthony Lonzo, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 7, in Immaculate Conception Church in Dennison. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery near Dennison. Family and friends are invited to call at the R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home in Dennison from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Immaculate Conception Church.