Valentine & Joan O'Callaghan

It is with deep sorrow we announce the passing of our beloved parents, our father, Valentine (Sonny) John O'Callaghan II who was born on January 30, 1940 and died on June 3, 2022 and our mother, Joan Inez (Schofield) O'Callaghan who was born on July 2, 1941 and died on March 19, 2023.
Valentine and Joan were happily married for 62 years and had five children.
Vaentine was born in Chelsea to Valentine and Mable (Gallant) O'Callaghan. He was known to his family and friends as Sonny. A graduate of Chelsea High School where in his yearbook it stated "He's not too big, he's not too small, but when it comes to friends, Sonny has them all."
Joan was born in Chelsea to Ralph and Agnes (Yates) Schofield. She attended grade school in Chelsea and attended Burlington High School. Joan lost her dad at the age of eight and at the age of sixteen she dropped out of school to help support her single mom and nine siblings. By the age of 38, she had studied hard and received her G.E.D. to be certain she graduated before any of her children. She then attended Northern Essex Community College early childhood certification program.
Valentine was an amazing carpenter, leaving his mark in many homes and businesses throughout Massachusetts, Alabama, and Florida. Joan touched many young lives as an assistant teacher at The Haverhill Community Action Head Start Program.
Sonny is a life member of the Lions Club and served as the President of the Haverhill Chapter. He enjoyed Sunday morning Golf with his buddies, Christmas decorating at their Florida Condo (that would put the show "Christmas Wars" to shame), and cooking for anyone and everyone. He relished throwing the biggest parties for any occasion, making everyone feel welcome and like family. But most of all, he loved picking on his grandchildren.
Joan loved painting, cooking for everyone, spending time with family and friends, dancing, and Country music (especially Charlie Pride). She was always the neighborhood Mom and therapist to all, she loved ghosts and animals, most recently their cat "Mister".
Valentine and Joan enjoyed many years camping and gardening at the Sunset campground in Hampstead, NH. Throughout those years, they were snowbirds before becoming permanent residents of West Palm Beach, Fl. Together they would take long rides throughout West Palm and Palm Beach. They enjoyed cocktail hour on the condo association's patio, going to casinos, and sitting and scratching many, many scratch tickets together at the kitchen table.
Up to about three weeks before Dad passed away, he was an amazing caregiver to our mom, Joan, who had several ailments that required assistance. Our Parents were truly the definition of love. They taught us kids, how to love unconditionally, how to laugh hard and live life to the fullest.
Together they are survived by their sons; Valentine O'Callaghan III and his wife Laura of NC, Shawn O'Callaghan and his wife Sandra of AL, and Scott O'Callaghan and his wife Amy of Hudson, NH, their daughters; Theresa Arel and her husband Richard of Haverhill, MA and Sharon Boisvert and her husband Chris of Salem, NH. They will also be deeply missed by their grandchildren; Benjamin, Taylor, Valentine, Jacqueline, Shannon, Meaghan, Samantha, Katelynn, Kelly, Cameron, Kasey and Anthony as well as thirteen great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Joan is survived by her brothers; Robert Schofield of Maine and Leo Schofield of FL and her sisters; Ann Levesseur of FL, Lorraine Cornetta of Maine and Joyce "Pat" Nelson of Burlington, MA.
Joan was predeceased by her siblings; Barry Schofield, Billy Schofield, Helen Savikas and Marie Danielson.
Memorial calling hours will be held on Monday, March 27, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main Street, Plaistow, NH. Her funeral will begin on Tuesday, March 28 at 8:45 AM in the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at All Saints Church, 120 Bellevue Ave, Haverhill, MA. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in their names to your local food pantry.
To view an online guestbook please visit www.brooksidechapelfh.com