Jim Kerivan

Dear ‘Forever Friends’ – My heart has been with you all week in the sadness of losing your dear ‘Dad’. His love & pride in all of you was always so very evident! …Starting with those 4 cute kids on Rockaway Street to this wonderful extended family that his arms and heart always enveloped so fully -(even if he did get ‘thrown out’ of a few Little League games from Lynn to Wichita just to prove it.) ….and it was on Rockaway St.where the Allens & Kerivans first formed a special friendship that spanned miles & years – filled with fun & tears, ups & downs, terrible illnesses & setbacks- and amazing strengths & courage!! Through it all there was always laughter and music..(with Bridge thrown in of course.) Jim – our ‘Mr. Entertainment’ – was always at the helm! His stories were renowned and so enjoyed (even if we heard them over & over) – and always His Songs!..especially the St. Pat’s Day tributes. Of course we couldn’t doubt that his stories were true because he would turn to Bonnie & say, ‘Isn’t that right, Bonnie?’…and her immediate firm nod of head and ‘That’s right Jim’, verified 100%. Those were wonderful times and there are too many more stories, memories and accomplishments to even begin to fully pay tribute to this man of many talents. With his kind and caring ways, Jim never refused to help anyone, anytime…and would always go ‘that extra mile’, often at the cost of his own well-being. As firefighter & civic leader – to friends-and even strangers in need of help—his sense of service never ended. To all those lucky enough to know Jim & this wonderful family it is a special treasure to share in the wonderful memories of happiness and joy as our hearts join together in the sadness of saying – ‘Farewell old friend’… Jim Kerivan -the young sailor from Lynn and his lovely ‘Bonnie Bean – the beauty queen’- and their ‘match made in heaven’ have come ‘Full Circle’….May they rest in Peace with God!

To the Sons and Family: My wife and I send our condolences and prayers on the passing of your father. We only had the opportunity to know your Dad for a few short weeks. His room at the Catholic Care Center was across the hall from my Mom where he moved in a few weeks before she passed away in March of last year. In fact the day she passed the staff did a great job keeping residents in their rooms so as not to upset them when they removed her. Your Dad was not liking the idea of staying in his room and my wife explained to him what had happened. His eyes welled up with a tear and he was so sincere and kind with his remarks to us. I wish I could have known him when he was in better health as both my wife and I enjoyed his stories and comments. On one particular night a tornado was near causing the alarms to sound. Staff was busy moving patients into the hallways and we assisted with my Mom. Your Dad was a bit upset that he had to move but I remembered he was a firefighter and so told him of the potential emergency due to the tornado. His first responder instinct kicked in and he agreed to the need to move to the hallway. He sat with us for a good half hour until the storm passed telling us great stories. We enjoyed his Irish smile, his Massachusetts accent and his feistyness. When my Dad passed away I started receiving comments such as: ‘you look like your Dad’; you tell a story like your Dad’; you sit like your Dad’. I suddenly realized that Dad was not really gone but lived on in me and that thought has always brought me great comfort. May time sift out the pain and leave you with nothing but great memories. We are grateful that Jim Kerivan crossed our path in life. Pat Hanrahan