Obituary of William E. O'Dowd

William (Bill) Edward O’Dowd, 76, of Montville, NJ, passed away on November 9, 2018 after a brief battle

with Pancreatic Cancer. Born in 1942 in Pine Brook to Joseph and Johanna O’Dowd, Bill was a lifelong

Montville Township resident. Bill graduated from Immaculate Conception High School and St. Peter’s

College. At Immaculate, Bill met the love of his life, Loretta Egan, whom he married in 1964.

Bill took pride in his many years of service at O’Dowd’s Dairy, working alongside many within his extensive

family. Bill also enjoyed movies with his sons and grandsons, Saturday Breakfast Club with his buddies, his

grandchildren’s sporting events, and golf with his brothers, sons and friends. Most of all, he loved spending

time with his wife and family, including their grandchildren who lovingly called him “Poppy”. Bill’s strong

Catholic faith laid the foundation for him to be the best possible husband, father, grandfather and friend, and

also allowed him to inspire those he loved to do the same.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Loretta, his eight children, and seventeen grandchildren:

Stephen, wife Amy and their children Bill, Gillian, Riley and Peyton; Nancy, husband Mark Orsi, their

children Connor and Cassandra; Brian, wife Maria and sons Evan and Aidan; Colleen, husband Dave Muti,

and sons David and Charlie; Sheila, husband Claudio Beltrami and their children Daniel and Delaney; Dennis,

wife Diana and their daughters Lucy and Callie; Michael, wife Jean, and son Gavin; and Katie, husband Brent

Grieco and sons Sean and Colin. Bill is also survived by his brothers Edward O’Dowd, and wife Katie, of

Rockaway Township; Joseph O’Dowd, and wife Pat, of Pine Brook; and Patrick Reardon, and wife Cindy, of

Byram.

There will be a visitation on Monday, November 12, 2018 from 7-9pm, and again on Tuesday, November 13,

2018 from 2-4pm and 7-9pm at the Keri Memorial Funeral Home, 125 Main Street in Lincoln Park, NJ. A

Funeral Mass celebrated by Msgrs. Raymond Kupke, Bill Reilly and Peter Smutelovic will be held on

Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 10:30am at St. Pius X Church in Montville Township. Following the

Funeral Mass, Bill will be laid to rest at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery at 712 Grove Street, Montclair,

NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bill’s honor to the St. Peter’s Orphanage at 170 Diamond Spring

Road, Denville, NJ 07834.