of Greenwood Lake, NY, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family and friends, on July 30, 2008. He was 47 years old.
Born on October 6, 1960 in New York, NY, he was the son of Sean and Nancy O’Brien.
Desmond was the husband of Janice (Smith) O’Brien.
Mr. O’Brien was an Air Conditioning and Heating Technician with Monsen Engineering, Fairfield, NJ for 23 years. He was a member of Holy Rosary RC Church, Greenwood Lake and was a Coach with the Greenwood Lake Soccer Club.
A family statement reads: “ We are so proud of this beautiful man who has fought so hard for 17 years, fought so hard to stay healthy and alive for his three beautiful children and wife. Desmond is the strongest man that everyone knows. His unique personality grabbed every person who he met. Desmond would do anything in the world for his wife and children and family. He had a very strong love for all of his family including his parents, siblings, mother, and father-in-law. He would do anything for his family, no matter at what cost or pain to him. Desmond is a person who lived totally for his family until the very end. His devotion and love taught our children to be loving and always keep a great sense of humor behind everything, and mainly ”never give up”. He has, and we have, the strongest love together, the five of our spirits can never be separated. We will forever continue to live through him. Desmond is our inspiration to go on, until we are all together in heaven with him.”
He is survived by his wife, Janice O’Brien; three children: Breanna, Brendan and Brigitte, all at home; his parents: Sean and Nancy O’Brien of Toms River, NJ; his brothers: John O’Brien and his wife Susan of Washington Township, Kevin O’Brien and his wife Melissa of Mt. Arlington, NJ; sisters: Mary O’Brien and husband, Gio Giaquinto of Manasquan, NJ, and Colleen O’Brien of Toms River, NJ; a father-in-law, Harold Smith of Middletown; a mother-in-law, Carole Smith, of Middletown; sister-in-laws: Amy Hogan and her husband Greg of Middletown, and Evelyn O’Brien of E. Rutherford, NJ; nieces and nephews: Adeline O’Brien, Collin O’Brien, Spencer Hogan and Liam Hogan; his dogs, Katie and Lucky. He was predeceased by a brother, Michael O’Brien (2007) and a favorite dog, Duke.
Visitation will be on Sunday, August 3, from 3:00–7:00 pm at Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Avenue, Warwick, NY. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am on Monday at St. Stephens RC Church, Warwick. Interment will follow in Warwick Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to “O’Brien’s Children’s Fund,
c/o Charity House Foundation, 221 Parker Avenue, Manasquan, NJ 08736.