Joseph Abreu

Loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather

Joseph Abreu, age 95, died peacefully on Friday, September 16, 2022. Born on December 26, 1926, in Lowell, MA, he was the son of Antonio N. and Carolina (Camara) Abreu. He was the beloved husband of Doris [Gorham] Abreu with whom he shared 74 years of marriage. 

Joe served in the United States Army during World War II where he was stationed in the Philippines. Upon his return to the States, he completed his education earning his GED from Lowell High School. During his early years, Joe was an integral member of the Lowell Junior Football League’s board of directors and also served as a coach and mentor. He was a proud and active member of the Centralville Neighborhood Organization. Prior to his retirement, Joe was employed as a service manager at Brodie Industries in Woburn. Following his retirement, he and Doris moved south where they enjoyed their new life at the Mainlands in Pinellas Park, FL. In 2021, he reluctantly agreed to move back up north. While living at the Arbors in Dracut, he enjoyed the time he was able to spend with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In August, he and his wife moved to Mary Immaculate Health Care Services in Lawrence. 

In addition to his wife, Doris, he is survived by his four children; Richard Abreu of Ocala, FL, Barbara Harrington of Newburyport, MA; Joan and her husband Paul McCarthy of Lowell; and Anthony Abreu of Derry, NH as well as his nine grandchildren: Kristina (Ernie) Lopez, Jason (Dawn) Leroux, Charles (Bethany) Kelleher III, Jaclyn (Matthew) Kelleher-Roy, Elizabeth Goguen, Bryan (Kasie) Donoghue, Travis McCarthy, Andrew McCarthy, and Chloe Abreu, and 11 great-grandchildren Kalina and Gabriella Lopez, Abby and Logan Roy, Samuel and Zachary Goguen, Aidan and Cailyn Kelleher, Cooper Leroux, and Landon and Ava Donoghue. 

He also leaves behind his sister Carolina Dubay of CT, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

Along with his parents, Joe was predeceased by his brothers and sisters-in-law Louis and Mary Abreu, Arthur and June Abreu, his brother-in-law Harvey Dubay, his son-in-law James Harrington, his mother and father-in-law, Alfred and Ruth Gorham, his sisters-in-law Althea Callahan Stolpner, Nancy Scott and Ruth Gorham and his brother-in-law Alfred Gorham.

The family would like to thank the employees of the Arbors in Dracut, Dr. Jessica Wieselquist and the employees at Stoney Brook Primary Care in Chelmsford, and Mary Immaculate Health Services of Lawrence for their compassionate care. 

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Joseph’s Life Celebration at the McKenna-Ouellette Funeral Home, 327 Hildreth Street, Lowell on Thursday morning from 9:00 until 10:45 a.m. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. at St. Michael Church on Sixth Street in Lowell. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Joseph’s memory to the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, 100 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852 https://www.glcfoundation.org/donate. For condolences, please visit www.mckennaouellette.com