Francis
Francis A. Quirk
d. July 30, 2018
Calling hours will be held in Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg on Sunday, August 12, from 3-5pm. Funeral Mass will be held in Our Lady of the Lake Church, 1400 Main St., Leominster at 10:00am on Monday, August 13. Burial will follow in Saint Bernard’s Cemetery in Fitchburg.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Turtle’s family wishes to extend its most sincere thanks to the staff at Leominster Crossings, Compassus Hospice, Oriol Health Care, and particularly the caregivers of the Laurel Unit at Oakdale Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center in West Boylston.
Francis A. Quirk, known as “Turtle,” gently passed away in his sleep July 30, 2018 at the age of 81.
Turtle was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Lucille (Murley) Quirk. In a letter he wrote to her many years ago, Turtle asked her to “…remember that I love you, always have, always will.” He will be lovingly remembered by his three children, Michael Quirk, his wife, Martha, and their son Jameson of Fitchburg, Thomas Quirk, his wife, Rebecca, and their children Alex and Erin of Scarborough, ME, and Daniel Quirk, his wife, Sarah, and their sons Connor and Patrick of Columbia, SC; a brother, Paul Muir and his wife, Audrey, of Ocean Isle Beach, NC; a sister, Elaine Kalagher, of Columbia, SC; a brother, Warren Muir of Aiken, SC; a brother, Peter Muir and his wife, Marie, of Oak Island, NC; a brother and sister-in-law, Rene and Janet Boisvert, of Templeton; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Allen Muir and his wife, Margaret, and sister-in-law Debbie Muir.
Turtle was born and bred in West Fitchburg, MA and lived there most of his life. The bonds he forged growing up on Appleton Circle lived on in him for the rest of his life. He was a graduate of St. John’s school in 1950 and St. Bernard’s High School in 1954. He was a proud member of the U.S. Army; serving from 1954 to 1957.After his military service, he took a job as a paper maker, and later a piper, with Crocker-Burbank. In his 33 years working in the mills, he served as a Union Steward, Bargaining Committee member, and United Fund representative. He was among the last of the employees of Number 8 Mill when it closed its doors in 1990. He later worked 8 years for the City of Fitchburg’s Waste Water division in the maintenance department. In retirement Turtle and Lucille spent their summers at their place at the Pinehurst Resort in Old Orchard Beach. They loved the fellowship of friends around the fire and their time walking the beach. They spent their winters in Columbia, SC enjoying time with family and outdoor activities that accompanied the mild weather.
He coached and managed in Fitchburg’s Western Little League. He enjoyed fishing, classical music, and history. The recent championships for the Boston Red Sox and New York Giants buoyed many years of tortured dedication on his part.
In Turtle’s own words, “To one and all, once in a while, when you’re gathered together having a few, tilt one for me and remember that I had your good intentions in mind at all times.”
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Turtle’s family wishes to extend its most sincere thanks to the staff at Leominster Crossings, Compassus Hospice, Oriol Health Care, and particularly the caregivers of the Laurel Unit at Oakdale Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center in West Boylston.
Francis A. Quirk, known as “Turtle,” gently passed away in his sleep July 30, 2018 at the age of 81.
Turtle was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Lucille (Murley) Quirk. In a letter he wrote to her many years ago, Turtle asked her to “…remember that I love you, always have, always will.” He will be lovingly remembered by his three children, Michael Quirk, his wife, Martha, and their son Jameson of Fitchburg, Thomas Quirk, his wife, Rebecca, and their children Alex and Erin of Scarborough, ME, and Daniel Quirk, his wife, Sarah, and their sons Connor and Patrick of Columbia, SC; a brother, Paul Muir and his wife, Audrey, of Ocean Isle Beach, NC; a sister, Elaine Kalagher, of Columbia, SC; a brother, Warren Muir of Aiken, SC; a brother, Peter Muir and his wife, Marie, of Oak Island, NC; a brother and sister-in-law, Rene and Janet Boisvert, of Templeton; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Allen Muir and his wife, Margaret, and sister-in-law Debbie Muir.
Turtle was born and bred in West Fitchburg, MA and lived there most of his life. The bonds he forged growing up on Appleton Circle lived on in him for the rest of his life. He was a graduate of St. John’s school in 1950 and St. Bernard’s High School in 1954. He was a proud member of the U.S. Army; serving from 1954 to 1957.After his military service, he took a job as a paper maker, and later a piper, with Crocker-Burbank. In his 33 years working in the mills, he served as a Union Steward, Bargaining Committee member, and United Fund representative. He was among the last of the employees of Number 8 Mill when it closed its doors in 1990. He later worked 8 years for the City of Fitchburg’s Waste Water division in the maintenance department. In retirement Turtle and Lucille spent their summers at their place at the Pinehurst Resort in Old Orchard Beach. They loved the fellowship of friends around the fire and their time walking the beach. They spent their winters in Columbia, SC enjoying time with family and outdoor activities that accompanied the mild weather.
He coached and managed in Fitchburg’s Western Little League. He enjoyed fishing, classical music, and history. The recent championships for the Boston Red Sox and New York Giants buoyed many years of tortured dedication on his part.
In Turtle’s own words, “To one and all, once in a while, when you’re gathered together having a few, tilt one for me and remember that I had your good intentions in mind at all times.”
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Francis A. Quirk, please visit our flower store.
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