William F. "Bill" Cassidy (1928 - 2012)

William F. Cassidy, 83, of Wilmington, DE peacefully passed away surrounded by loving family on Thursday, January 5, 2012.

Bill was born on October 2, 1928 and raised in the "Forty Acres" neighborhood of Wilmington, the son of the late Thomas A. Cassidy, Sr. and Anna T. (Griffin) Cassidy, Irish immigrants from County Mayo. A graduate of St. Ann's Parish Grade School and Wilmington High School, he proudly served our country during the Korean War as a Military Police Officer of the United States Army. Bill was hired by his good friend, Bill Brooks, and was one of the first employees of the former Brooks Armored Car Company (presently Garda). He later became the president of Brooks Courier Service, Inc., and retired after a combined total of 38 years of dedicated service.

Bill was a member of St. Mary Magdalen Parish and the Delaware Veterans Post #1. He was also a life member of the Knights of Columbus Bishop Curtis Council #2867, the Wilmington Elks Lodge #307, the VFW Post #7447, and a founding member of the Stapler Athletic Association.

An avid sports enthusiast, Bill enjoyed NFL and college football, college basketball and rooting for the Eagles and Phillies. He was also the number 1 fan at his grandchildren's many sporting events throughout the years.

Bill will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 53 years, Dolores A. (Miske) Cassidy; his daughters and sons-in-law Michelle A. Budd, Dean A. Budd, Diane M. Beatty and her husband, Matt; and his grandchildren, Melissa, Mark, Danny and Jacob Budd, and Brenden, Meghan and Justin Beatty, along with his granddog, Molly. He is also survived by his sisters, Anna Mae Donahue and Sally Paraskewich; his sister-in-law, Suzanne Rector and her husband, Dennis; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his sisters, Agnes Cassidy and Sr. Catharine (Euthalia) Cassidy, OSF; and his brothers, Martin Cassidy and Thomas Cassidy Jr.

Friends may visit at the Doherty Funeral Home, 1900 Delaware Avenue, Wilmington on Tuesday, January 10 from 4-7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary Magdalen Church, Concord Pike and Sharpley Road, Wilmington on Wednesday, January 11 at 10 am. Entombment will follow in the St. Ann Garden Crypt in Cathedral Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bill may be made to Heartland Hospice, 256 Chapman Rd., #102, Newark, DE 19702.

To offer condolences, visit

www.dohertyfh.com
302-652-6811

Published in The News Journal from January 8 to January 9, 2012