Thomas F. Holigan, Jr.

Thomas F. Holigan Jr., 94, of East Berlin, husband of the late Jessie (Palmer) Holigan, passed away peacefully at Pilgrim Manor in Cromwell on June 5, 2018.

Born in Southington on Jan. 11, 1924, he was the son of the late Thomas F. Holigan Sr. and Evangeline (Bourgoise) Holigan.  Thomas was a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II, serving aboard the USS Wichita in the South Pacific.  He lived in East Berlin most of his life and was formerly employed at Southern New England Telephone Company before retiring in 1983.  He attended Sacred Heart Church in East Berlin, was a member of the Men’s Club at Sacred Heart Church, and worked in the church booth on the grill at the Berlin Fair.  Tom was an avid fan of UCONN Women’s Basketball.

Tom loved being outdoors.  As a member of the Timberlin Golf Course, he enjoyed playing golf.  You could also find him in the woods, cutting firewood, or snowmobiling around Keene, NH.  In addition, he loved to snowmobile with the Snow Snoopers of New Hampshire.

Tom was a protector for his family.  He was the voice of reason and grounded those around him.  He was always there for his family and was the first person to call with good or bad news.  His sense of humor sustained his family throughout their lives.

Tom is survived by his children, Kathy and John Wagner of Lyme, Maureen and Robert Cepelak of Mansfield, Thomas Holigan III of Broad Brook and Colleen Holigan of Bowdoin, ME; his grandchildren, Cory, Jonathan, Shannon, Thomas IV, Cory and Rachel;  his great-grandchildren, Billy, Jack, Charlotte, Shaun, Thomas V, Nathan, and Zack; and many nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his wife Jessie, his sisters and their spouses, Kathryn and Joe Sylvester, Rita and Jack Delowry, Eileen and Roy Riggot, his sister Patricia Holigan, and his daughter-in-law, Joanne Holigan.  Tom’s family would like to thank Pilgrim Manor and Kindred At Home for their special care.