William Rafferty

William Rafferty, 88, of Union Beach, New Jersey, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Friday morning, May 3, 2024, at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, New Jersey.  William was born on October 19, 1935, in Glasgow, Scotland, where he grew up and met his beloved wife, Mary O’Donnell.  William and Mary were married on June 25, 1960, in Scotland, where they began their life and family together.  A few years later in 1964, they immigrated to the United States, beginning in Kearney, New Jersey.  In 1972, they settled in Union Beach.  Before immigrating to the U.S., William was a proud member of the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom.  Once living in New Jersey, William worked as a union carpenter for many years before his retirement. 

While living in Union Beach, William was very involved in Holy Family Roman Catholic Church and was prior “Man of the Year” for their Holy Name Society.  He was also one of the founders of the Hazlet Youth Soccer Association.  William had a passion for the sport of soccer, known as ‘football’ in Scotland.  He was especially a huge fan of his beloved football team, Celtic FC.  William took immense pride in his Scottish heritage, which he lovingly shared with his family and friends over the years.  He travelled back to Scotland often, twice taking his grandchildren so they could experience their shared Scottish heritage together. William was an avid golfer and travelled throughout the United States and Europe taking in the sights and the links.  Most of all, William adored spending time with his cherished family and friends. We remember him as someone who was always there to lend a hand, to share a laugh, or to visit and care for a sick friend.  His legacy-through the church, youth soccer, trusted friend and family patriarch-will live on in our hearts and deeds. He was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend to many.  He will be greatly missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.

He was predeceased by his parents, Patrick and Ellen (McKenna) Rafferty, and his grandson, Detective Corporal Timothy Kelly (UBPD).  Unfortunately, only two days after his passing, William was joined in heaven with his beloved and devoted wife of 64 years, Mary (O’Donnell) Rafferty. William is survived by his loving daughters, Carol Anne Bouchard and her husband, Francis, of Washington, D.C., Karen Kelly and her husband, Timothy, of Belford, and Pauline Goebel and her husband, Glenn, of New Egypt, and his dear siblings, Patricia Fitzsimons, Thomas Rafferty and his wife, Kathleen, and Andrew Rafferty and his wife, Helen.  William also leaves behind his cherished grandchildren, Lauren Bryant and her husband, Robert, Karli Goebel and Shawn Cahill, Lindsay Bouchard, Jennifer Reed and her husband, Aaron, Ryan Kelly, and Colin Bouchard, and his adored great grandchildren, Leila Bryant, Claire Bryant, Anna Bryant, Troy Brant, Liam Reed, Nolan Reed, and Lennox Cahill.

Family and friends are invited to visit for both William and Mary, on Tuesday, May 7th, 2024 from 4:00PM to 8:00PM and Wednesday, May 8th, 2024 from 8:30AM to 9:15AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, 727 Highway 36, Union Beach, NJ, 07735 on Wednesday, May 8th, 2024 beginning at 10:00AM. Interment will follow at St. Joseph's cemetery in Keyport, where William and Mary will be laid to rest together. In lieu of flowers, donations in loving memory of William to Tim’s Earth Angels would be greatly appreciated.  Tim’s Earth Angels is a non-profit, 501C3 organization that was established in honor of William’s grandson, Detective Corporal Timothy Kelly (UBPD), who passed away in July 2022.  Donations can be made via Venmo to @timsearthangels31 or via Zelle to timsearthangels@gmail.com.  For information, directions, or to send condolences to the family, please visit, www.shorepointfh.com.

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