James M. O'Laughlin,

ATHOL - James M. O'Laughlin, Jr., 82 of 41 Highland Ave., Athol, died Tuesday, July 29, 2008 in the St. Vincent's Hospital, Worcester, MA. He was born in Montague, MA, on August 16, 1925, the son of the late James M. and the late Margaret (Brodrick) O'Laughlin. He graduated from Athol High School in 1943 and from Bryant College in 1947. James was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1946. Mr. O'Laughlin was a longtime merchant in Athol his family founded and operated the O'Laughlin Brothers Clothing Store for 77 years. He was a Special Deputy Sheriff in Worcester County for over forty years; he was a Captain of the Athol American Legion Auxiliary Police Department for many years. He was a communicant of Our Lady Immaculate Church and a longtime member of the Athol Knights of Columbus where he was Past Grand Knight and District Deputy. He was a member of the Edward H. Phillips American Legion Post No. 102 in Athol and served on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank in Athol for many years. He leaves his wife of 58 years, Natalie R. (Callahan) O'Laughlin; five daughters, Maureen Krustapentus and her husband Thomas of Nashua, NH, Elizabeth Hardy and her husband Lawrence of Holden, Catherine Robbins and her husband Michael of Holden, Patricia Pandiscio and her husband David of Athol, Mary Pomainville and her husband Leslie of Athol; eleven grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; one sister, Cathleen Ginn and her husband Robert of Columbia, SC; a brother in-law, William Callahan and his wife Janet of Yuba City, CA; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his son, Thomas J. O'Laughlin who died July 15, 1983. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, August 1, 2008 at 11:00 am in Our Lady Immaculate Church, 192 School St., Athol. Burial will follow in Gethsemane Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Thursday, July 31, 2008, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home 137 Main St., Athol. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in his memory to Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund - New England Chapter, 60 Walnut St., Wellesley Hills, MA 02481. For more information or to sign our online guest book please visit www.murphysfuneralhome.com. J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home 137 Main St., Athol is directing arrangements. $(document).ready(function(){ });