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Michael O'Brien Obituary
AGE: 25 • Spotswood
Michael Christopher O'Brien, 25, of East Brunswick, formerly of Spotswood, died Friday, October 16th at his home. Michael, affectionately known as "Big Mac," was born in Westwood and raised in Northvale before moving to Spotswood in 2000 and settling in East Brunswick last year. He was a graduate of Spotswood High School. He worked as a pharmacy technician for Actavis Pharmaceuticals of Elizabeth. Michael was an avid reader and enjoyed writing and the arts, especially music. He was quiet and loved spending time with his family.
He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Suzanne O'Brien-Malloy and James Malloy, of Union Beach; his sister, Caitlin O'Brien and her fiancé, Danny McCluskey, of East Brunswick; his step-brothers, Sean and Justin Malloy and, Justin's wife, Ece; his aunts and uncles, Candace and Dr. Greg Fluharty and Denise and Dennis May, his cousin, Christina Zitzman and her husband, Frank; his girlfriend, Candi Fritzinger of South Bound Brook and; his canine companions, Riley and Lola.
Funeral services will be on Saturday at 10:30 AM from Spotswood Funeral Home, 475 Main Street, Spotswood, followed by a committal service in the Chapel of Holy Cross Crematory, East Brunswick. The family will receive friends on Friday from 5:00 to 9:00 PM at the Funeral Home.
The family desires that in lieu of flowers, donations honoring Michael's memory be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 or online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org. To send a condolence card or to share a memory with Michael's family in our on-line guest book, please visit www.spotswoodfuneralhome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Michael O'Brien
Theresa Sensale
April 6, 2025
Happy heavenly birthday Michael.. thank you for all the wonderful memories.. I can still your smile and those dimples. Reading your mom’s message today made me giggle. Picturing her climbing the tree to get you lol. And hiding in the washing machine in my basement.. lol. Good times .. love n miss you!
Suzanne Malloy
April 4, 2025
My dearest Michael,
April 6th you will be 35 years! It's unbelievable 10 years has gone by. The days seem long but the years are flying by. Memories swarm my mind...of you climbing the tree at 4 years old in Northvale and me having to climb up after you to get you down, telling your pre-school teachers our bathroom blew up (oh the stories you would tell!), you and Cait dressing up as action figures, you and Dan hiding in Aunt Theresa's basement (in the washing machine I think? We couldn't leave you two alone never knowing what you'd get up to). We had great times together Mike. You always had the gift to make us laugh. I so wish you were here. Madison will bring you up in conversations so I know and feel you are her Guardian angel. And Jakey resembles you so much. Love you so much!! Give everyone a big hug from me.
Happy Happy Birthday Michael!!!
xoxo Mom
Bernadette and Eric
October 17, 2024
Dear Michael- how loved you are. It´s impossible to imagine you missing from this world for 9 years already. The emptiness where you would be will remain forever. We are sending hugs to you and our crew up there! You Are most certainly hanging with the most fun, most loving family you could ever want. God bless you forever.
Bernadette and Eric
Theresa Sensale
October 16, 2024
Sending my love and prayers in heaven ..
Suzanne
October 16, 2024
Michael,
Not a day goes by where I´m not thinking of you, talking to you, thanking you and venting to you.
I miss you so much Michael. I´d be lying if I said it gets easier but knowing you´re in a much better and happier place makes it bearable. Please always watch over cait and the kids, they are my world. I love you so much and miss you each and every day.
Love you my angel!!!
Mom
Theresa Sensale
April 6, 2024
Happy Heavenly Birthday Michael!
Suzanne
April 6, 2024
Happy Birthday Michael!! Can´t believe you´re 34 today!!! It´s still hard to process the why but knowing you´re in a much better place than here makes it bearable. I miss you and love you so much Mike! Have fun celebrating with grandma, grandpa, aunt Dee,uncle Bob, aunt Evelyn, uncle Joe and aunt Rosalie! Should be some party!!
Love you,
Mom
Mom
April 5, 2024
Michael,
Another year older tomorrow... crazy how fast the years go. I often wonder what your life would be like. Would you be married? Would you have kids? Mostly would you have finally found happiness?
I know I say it to you everyday... I TRULY MISS YOU!
A broken heart never mends it just keeps barely beating.
Always know I love you.
You and Cait made me the happiest I ever was.
Happy 34th Michael!!! Thank you for watching over us.
Love you,
Mom
Bernadette
October 16, 2023
Dear Michael.... How fast time goes by. Could it really be so long since we saw you last? Maybe thanksgiving at our house all together? Wow. I talk to you all, and imagine the fun going on with you and the crew you have with you! I have been to a medium where you were brought up.... You were with your grandmother and my mom. I love that thought. Know that we think of you and pray for you and our family. One day, we will all be together, having fun and enjoying each other fully in heaven. Much love. Bernadette and Eric.
Theresa Sensale
October 16, 2023
Michael, your memory lives on. Miss and love you❤
Suzanne Malloy
October 15, 2023
8 years ago today was the last time I heard your voice Michael. Tomorrow starts another year of you being gone. I’ve lost people these past years but never in a million years did I think my child would be one of them. I love and miss you everyday, Michael . I know you’re watching over us and I want thank you for keeping us safe.
You and Cait will always mean the world to me. ❤❤ Mom
Caitlin O’Brien McCluskey
October 15, 2023
Mike, we miss you more than ever as your niece and nephew grow up. We wish you could be a part of all of these family moments and milestones. Madison talks about “Uncle Mike”, which makes us so happy. I wish you were still on earth to see her and Jake, but we know you’re our guardian angel. Please keep watching over all of us. We love you always and forever.
Theresa Sensale
April 5, 2023
Happy Heavenly Birthday Micheal! Miss and love you always! 4/6/23
Aunt Theresa
Mom
April 4, 2023
Happy Birthday Michael! xoxo
This year for your birthday Madison and I are going to plant sunflower seeds in all different colors. Once they're all grown we'll plant them around your tree. It's going to look even more beautiful; if that's possible!
We make sure Madison and Jake will ALWAYS know their Uncle Mike and what a great son, brother and uncle you are. Know how much you are missed and loved. I miss you with all my heart Mike.
With my eternal love,
Mom
Suzanne Malloy
October 16, 2022
Dear Michael,
Never a day goes by that I don't think of you. I love you so much and miss you each and every day. Knowing we will see each other one day gets me through. I cannot believe today is 7 years since you passed. I still remember every moment of that day and the pain is still there. I would never wish this on anyone. I love you with everything there is in me. God blessed Cait and I with you for 25 years.
I know you are with me, Cait and the kids each and every day. Haha does Jake remind you of anyone???
I WILL ALWAYS LOVE, MISS AND THINK OF YOU MICHAEL
All my love for eternity,
MOM
Theresa
October 16, 2022
Michael,
Think of you often and the good times, I cherish all the memories. I´ll always remember your beautiful smile! Continue to watch over your mom, Caitlin and your niece and nephew... Miss and love you.
Aunt Theresa
Bernadette
October 15, 2022
Michael,
I can´t believe that 7 years have passed by already....how much we have missed out on you being part of the day to day.... I know you are said to love reading and writing. I think I missed out on many a good conversation with you...How sad that makes me feel. But I suspect you are have one fascinating and fun conversation after another with your grandparents and your aunts and uncles! I´d love to get in on them!! Thinking of you with much love xo
Mom
April 5, 2022
Michael,
All I can say is I miss you as much today as I did when you left us. I thank God for blessing me with two children who I love more than life itself. Somedays it seems surreal that you're gone but I know you are always around us. I know I'm a day early but Happy Birthday Mike; Happy 32nd! Love you Mike.
Mom
Suzanne Malloy
October 14, 2021
Dearest Michael,
I love and miss you each and every day. Knowing one day we'll be reunited brings me solace. I want to thank you for giving me the strength to go on and to stand up for myself. You truly are my Guardian Angel Michael. All my love eternally- Mom
Theresa Mazza Sensale
October 14, 2021
Thinking of you Michael, I will always cherish n remember the great memories we had. Someone so special can never be forgotten. Love you.. xoxo
Bernadette Jaeger
April 7, 2021
Happy belated birthday Michael. I was reading some where the other day that “heaven is defined as where God lives”. I loved thinking about that.... so to imagine you and all our family beyond as being in with God- where God lives- seemed very comforting. You know that no matter what, our hearts belong to our loving life here, and our love for you in heaven. Our hearts will always straddle the two. It’s the way it is... sending love to you and all your heavenly crew. Bernadette
Caitlin
April 6, 2021
Happy 31st birthday to my best friend. We love you so much and miss you every day. I know you’re watching over Madison and I thank you so much for that. I hope you’re celebrating in heaven today. We love you!
Theresa (Mazza) Sensale
April 6, 2021
Thinking of you, and wishing you a happy heavenly birthday Michael!
Suzanne Malloy
April 5, 2021
Happy Birthday my love. I'm sitting here thinking of what to write while listening to Kenny Chesney. His song "Who'd You be Today" is playing. It's as though absolutely everything I am feeling is sung in that song.
I know you'd be the coolest Uncle Mike to Madison. You'd be spoiling her all the time. You will ALWAYS be a part of her life through the stories we tell, pictures we look at and the love we feel for you. You are truly missed and loved always and forever.
They say there's no tears in heaven; Lord knows I'm making up for it on Earth.
Happy 31st Birthday Michael- we'll be singing to you tomorrow- xoxo Mom
Barbara Wantuch
October 16, 2020
Mac,
I cannot believe it is 5 years, Cory and I reminisce about the memories that you two shared. I can still remember seeing you the first time after you lost all the weight, and I didn't recognize you. You were a good friend, and a great person. Continue to R.I.P.❤
Aunt Theresa
October 16, 2020
Michael,
I think of you often and will never forget the great times and memories. I can still see your wonderful smile, you have such a beautiful sole.. I pray that you are at peace and continue to watch over your family and especially your new neice Madison.. ❤
Bernadette Jaeger
October 15, 2020
Thinking of you Michael. Each year, I approach this Guest Book, wishing I could have known you better. I regret that so much. I think of you and believe you are having a really fun time with your grandparents, your Uncle Bobby, Aunt Dee, and all the rest of our family including your Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Joe. My faith tells me you have great peace now that you are finally HOME with God. Our human hearts straddle the worlds of both heaven and earth. One day all of our hearts will be together in heaven. Until then, we love you all from here, and keep you all so close in our hearts and minds. Xoxo
Caitlin McCluskey
October 14, 2020
Mike,
I hate that it’s almost 5 years since you’ve left our world. We miss you every day. There’s so much I wish you were here for and every day I wish I could still call you. I wish you were here to meet your niece, Madison. She has big blue eyes just like you and she’s just starting to laugh. I hope she gets your sense of humor. I know you would be the best uncle to her, but I’ll take you watching over as her guardian angel. Thank you for watching over all of us so far and please continue to do so. We love you so much!
Suzanne Malloy
October 14, 2020
My darling son Michael,
Not a day goes by that I don't think of you. My heart still hurts at the thought of you gone but knowing you're in a much better place helps. I cannot believe you turned 30 this year, became an uncle to the most beautiful and amazing little girl who Cait and I swear has some of you in her. As long as we live she will always know who her Uncle Mike is. I cannot believe it's almost 5 years since your passing. What started out with such sadness and heartbreak has turned into comfort and acceptance knowing you're watching and protecting us. We love, love , love you always and forever Michael!
P.S. I know you rolled your eyes on "My darling son Michael"
Bernadette Jaeger
October 14, 2019
Just a note for you Michael. Just as the spring brings your birthday to mind, this beautiful autumn time of year brings your passing on to your God to my mind. Your absence, though, is felt all year round. With our limited human knowledge, we can only say, you left too soon. Thinking of you and your family all the time xoxo
October 14, 2019
Michael,
I think of you so often. Yesterday, not even realizing it was close to the date that we lost you, I was in church, and thinking about you and saying a prayer for you.
You will forever be in my heart.
Barbara Wantuch
Suzanne Malloy
September 13, 2019
Love love love you to eternity and back Michael !!!! I love our talks...or my talks to you... each day; gives me peace and comfort. You are so loved and missed. I cannot believe its almost 4 years since youve found your peace with God. He loves us so much. Were one day closer honey xoxo
Bernadette Jaeger
September 20, 2018
Michael, as the anniversary of your passing approaches, im thinking about you so much. I remember that you loved to read. I wish I knew what you loved reading. It makes me realize we spoke so few times. Even saying that, the truth for us is that you are our family- we love you and miss you. We mourn you. We wish you were here with us. You remain in our hearts always. With Love Bernadette and Eric
Suzanne OBrien-Malloy
September 19, 2018
I love you so much! Everyday I think of you. I miss you terribly Michael. People say it gets easier but I think it gets harder. This journey called life is hard. You are so loved my son! Xoxo
Suzanne O'Brien Malloy
April 6, 2017
Happy 27th birthday Michael! You will always be the light of my life and the joy in my heart. I cherish every memory and dream I have of you. Cait and I love and miss you each and every day. Love you Michael... my angel, my son, my love , my life. Forever with love, Mom
Suzanne Malloy
April 5, 2017
I love you and miss you more and more each and every day. Love Mom
Theresa (Aunt Theresa) Mazza
April 6, 2016
Micheal, I think if you often... Happy Birthday in heaven!! Xoxo..❤ I pray that your mom & Caitlin stay strong... I love you all so much!!
Suzanne O'Brien-Malloy
April 5, 2016
My dearest Michael,
I am trying so hard to get through each day. I cannot believe tomorrow is your birthday. Each day is a journey;some calm some rocky. I love you soo much. I truly believe you are watching over Caitlin and me. I can smell when you're around. Please always know I have always tried my best to give you the best I could. I will never ever love 2 people as much as I love you and Caitlin. I love being your mom and you both have made me proud. Love and kisses always... Mom
April 5, 2016
Stay close, Michael. You are a blessing to your family. Sending you lots of love. You will surely be missed on your birthday.... Thinking of you. xoxo
Candace Fluharty
April 4, 2016
Thinking about you and want to wish you a Happy Birthday. We are all taking good care of your Mom and Kaitlin... We love you and please watch over all of us.
Kenny, Debbie and Korie Fritzinger
October 23, 2015
Our prayers are with the family and loved ones. God bless
Jimmy Parks
October 23, 2015
Big Mac,
We had some great times growing up. I know you will be looking over all of us, and we will all miss you greatly. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family.
Kathy Parks
October 23, 2015
Caitlin and family,
Holding you close in our prayers during your time of sorrow.
God Bless "Big Mac"
Kathy and Bill Parks
Jennifer Dyke
October 23, 2015
Dear, Michael,
It was such a pleasure knowing you, you were such a fun person to be around. You made Candi so happy, I enjoyed spending time with you two. I'm so sad you had to leave us so soon. Rest easily Mike, you'll be missed.
Patricia Plazas
October 23, 2015
Extending deep and heartfelt sympathy to you and your family. God bless.
' KELL ' Brown
October 23, 2015
Michael, where do I even begin? What do I even say?You left me speechless, the least to say heartbroken. How could such an amazing, bubbly, kind hearted, just someone who was so full of life be taken so soon? "Only the good die young" is truly a statement that has now been defined for me.. Literally a brother from another mother to me & Nick. Some of the best times of my life involved you. I will never forget all the laughs and insides jokes me you and Nick share, I thank God for our memories I will be able to reminisce on for the rest of my life. I sit here writing this while tears falling down my face, and some how I still manage to smile because I can close my eyes and see your adorable smile, those dimples, those beautiful blue eyes & hear that contagious laugh that I always complimented you on. Thank you for always being the best brother to me and Nick for the 15 years we all watched each other grow up. My heart breaks for your family, I send them my love, condolences, and strength along with my prayers that are forever with them. May you fly high, shine bright and rest in absolute beautiful peace and paradise. Please forever watch over us, guide us & protect us as we continue to miss and think of you every second of every day that passes by. I love you with all my heart.. Enjoy those scooters pies with Mema in heaven. Love always, "the coolest LITTLE sister you could ever ask for/never had,
Cyndy Brown
October 23, 2015
Dear Michael;
words can't say how much you were loved and forget how much you will be missed thanks for being a great friend to Nicholas he loved you & your friendship and you were also a great adopted son to me & brother to Kelli Ann we will miss you always please watch over all of us and keep us safe
I hope your at peace Love & kisses
Momma Cyndy Brown
Pam Florio
October 23, 2015
Suzanne & Caitlin - My heart breaks for both of you. I'm so sorry Michael had to leave so young. Michael Christopher will always be watching over you both. God bless.
penntjo orten
October 22, 2015
May god help your family through this sad time .in Jesus name we pray.
Reginald Richardson
October 22, 2015
Micheal, it was a pleasure to work with you, i truly enjoyed our conversations and the knowledged you had with all the topics we discussed most of all i'm glad that i had an influence on your weight lost, u showed true dedication and proved the pupil was better than the teacher lol, we both lost weight but u kept your off,all can ask of u now is watch over me and my family, i will miss you.
Barbara Wantuch
October 21, 2015
Mac,
i will always remember the first time that you came over to our house after you lost all that weight. i didn't even recognize you. I was so proud of you.i am grateful that you were my sons friend, and I will always keep you in my heart. And I will picture you with those beautiful blue eyes,dimples and fantastic smile.Hope you've found your peace, and prayers to your family.
Love,
Barbara Wantuch
October 21, 2015
Michael, we are so sorry to lose you this soon in your young life. God must want you with him. I will see you kind and handsome face in my mind forever. You will need to watch over your family from above, and help them find strength in their journeys without you here. All our Love to you and your family. Bernadette and Eric
Theresa Mazza
October 21, 2015
Michael, Im so thankful for being a part of your life when you were growing up!! We had such good times.. And I'll cherish those memories.When I close my eyes I can still see that smile & hear your laughter. Praying your at peace and my condolences to Sue, Jamie, Caitlin & Danny, ❤ Love Aunt Theresa.
Theresa Mazza
October 20, 2015
Michael, We had some fun times and I'm so thankful for all the great memories. When I close my eyes I can still see the smile on your face, and hear your laugh. You will truly be missed. All my love and my deepest condolences to Sue, Jamie, Caitlin & Danny. ❤
Suzanne O'Brien- Malloy
October 20, 2015
My son, my Michael, I will forever thank God for letting me have you these 25 years. You are my joy and will always live on in my heart. I will forevermore think of your dimples, your beautiful blue eyes and remember your laughter especially after teasing me. Watch over Caitlin and keep her safe. I love you so much!!!!! Eternally your Mom
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