Sean Michael Casey

Sean Michael Casey, 53, of St. Albans, Vermont passed away unexpectedly on November 28.  He was born in Methuen, Massachusetts on August 5, 1964 to the late Cornelius Joseph and Mary Elizabeth (Donahue) Casey. 

He attended St. Laurence O’Toole School and Parish until it closed when he began attending St. Mary of the Assumption Parish.  He was a graduate of Lawrence High School and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.  His work doing property appraisals brought him to work in Vermont, which he fell in love with.  He worked for the City of Newport, Vermont for several years and then began a career with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service until his health forced him into an early retirement.

Sean was born with congenital dislocated hips which required more surgeries than anyone can remember from the time he was an infant.  He lived with constant pain and difficulty, but he never let these define his life.  Instead he was a man of great joy, who loved to be around people and could always make folks laugh, with his witty humor, deft impersonations, and a mind for remembering the funniest lines from movies and knowing just when to use them.  His mother was the first to notice Sean’s superior singing voice.  From his early years in body casts Sean would “rock his head” back and forth and sing to entertain himself, and anyone else in earshot.  She brought him to singing lessons for years.  Sean will be most remembered for the beauty of his voice and wide range of talent; he could sing hymns, ballads, folk and rock music.  So many of our family funerals were graced by his Ave Maria and the Irish Blessing.  He was seldom without one his guitars, the most cherished of which was one that had once belonged to his best friend Paul Halloran.  Sean created two albums of which he was immensely proud, a collection of Irish Folk Songs and an album of original music called The Age of Ascension.

Sean is survived by his son Dylan Casey of Newport Vermont whom he loved with all his heart.  He also leaves behind Dylan’s mother, Jody (Smith) Casey of Newport VT and her daughters Kristina (Weston) Nowakowski of Tampa FL and Kelli (Casey) Rhodes of Brownington, Vermont.  He is also survived by his sisters, Ann Casey Langlois and her husband Steve of Amesbury, MA, Betsy (Casey) Brouillette and her husband Steve of Billerica, MA, and Sheila Casey of Amesbury, MA; one brother, Fr. Christopher Casey of Methuen, MA, and several nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews all of whom loved him dearly.  He also leaves a good and faithful friend Jeffrey Williams of St. Albans VT; Sean’s family will be forever grateful for the many kindnesses and support that Jeff showed him.

In addition to his parents Mary and Con, Sean was predeceased by his son Ryan Casey, brothers Cornelius Joseph “CJ” Casey and Timothy Patrick Casey, and his maternal grandmother Anna (Chabis) Donahue. 

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Saturday December 2 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish at 22 Plymouth Street in Methuen; a Mass of Christian Funeral services  will be celebrated Monday, December 4 at noon at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 191 Clermont Terrace, Newport, VT 05855.  Burial will follow at St. Edward’s Cemetery in Derby Line.  A wake will be held from 10-11:30 A.M.  prior to the funeral Mass on Monday at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home at 4670 Darling Hill Road, Newport Vermont. 

Please see the funeral home’s website, www.curtis-britch.com for more information. 

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, locally family owned and operated.