James Edward Keefe

SOUTH YARMOUTH — James Edward Keefe died peacefully at home after a long illness on Monday, Oct. 13, 2008.

Born in Brockton on Dec. 4, 1922, to Joseph and Bernice Keefe of Rockland, he attended Rockland schools, graduating from Rockland High School in 1940.

After graduating from high school, Mr. Keefe worked at Fore River Shipyard in Quincy as a sheet metal worker. He joined the Navy in 1942 and served until 1946 in the Pacific during World War II on the U.S.S. Briareus.

He married Adeline McGlynn of Weymouth on Sept. 16, 1951. They resided for many years in Rockland before relocating to the Cape in 1966.

He worked for New England Telephone, NYNEX and Verizon, retiring after 40 years of service.

Mr. Keefe was a pitcher for the Rockland American Legion and was an avid musician, playing for the American Legion Band as a clarinetist. He was also an enthusiastic outdoorsman who loved all kinds of fishing and was a communicant of St. Pius X Parish. He could be found on many Sundays shell fishing a flat somewhere in Yarmouth.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Keefe is survived by a sister, Dorothea Hemmings of North Eastham; and five children, Peter of Falls Church, Va., Daniel and his wife, Susan, of South Dennis, Maura Allen and her husband, Dean, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Thomas and his wife, Beth, of Syracuse, N.Y., and daughter Katherine. He also leaves seven grandchildren, Kaitlyne, Christopher, Michael, Shannon, Emily, Julie and Erin.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, Oct. 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Morris & O'Connor Funeral Home, 58 Long Pond Drive, South Yarmouth. A funeral Mass will be celebreated on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m., at St. Pius X Church, South Yarmouth. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery, Weymouth.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Visiting Nurse Association Hospice and Palliative Care, Route 134, South Dennis, MA 02660. For guest register visit www.morrisoconnor.com