Obituary: John L. Saunders—family man, US Army veteran & longtime Wellesley Celebrations Committee member

John L. Saunders of Wellesley passed away on November 29, 2024. Beloved husband of the late Mary Ellen (Shields) Saunders. Devoted father of JoEllen Saunders Yannis of Brighton, Joseph John Saunders of Holliston and John Lee Saunders and his wife, Kristen Bushway of Woodstock, NH. Grandfather of Jonah, Jonathan and Jane Yannis. John was a proud U.S. Army Veteran. He was a member of the Wellesley Celebrations Committee/Veterans Parade.

John attended West Newton High School and graduated in 1950. While in high school he played on the varsity football team and was an active member of the Meteorology Club making weekly observations atop Blue Hills at the National Weather Services Observatory. After graduating John attended Fisher Junior College while working as the Caddie Master at Brae Burn Country Club, where he caddied for most of his teenage years. He even taught a caddie class in Charlestown. With the outbreak of the Korean War, John was drafted into the US Army, and was assigned to a Field Artillery Unit. During his service he was stationed at Fort Sill, OK, and attained the rank of Sergeant First Class before being honorably discharged in 1953.

Upon returning to Massachusetts, John was called by Bud Wellman, a business owner and member at Brae Burn CC. He offered him a job – Traffic Manager of products created by his company, Wellman, Inc. John took the job at the company’s headquarters in downtown Boston, and worked there for 27 years. While starting his new career John attended Northeastern University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business in 1966.

In 1964 he married the love of his life, Mary Ellen Shields of Needham. Soon after they wed, they welcomed their first child, Jo-Ellen, followed by Joseph, and then John. They purchased land and had a house built in Wellesley to raise their family.

John and his family were parishioners at Saint James the Great Catholic Church in Wellesley, MA. Not wanting to just attend Mass, he became a Eucharistc Minister to assist the priest in distributing communion during Mass, and brought communion to those who were unable to attend Mass dutifully for decades. After the closure of Saint James, John and Mary Ellen chose to worship at Saint Julia’s in Weston, MA, where he continued his Eucharistic Minister duties.

While in the Army, John joined the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic Family Fraternal Organization that provides aid to its members and families, as well as aid and assistance to the disabled and those in need. Proud of his military service, John was an active member with the American Legion Wellesley Post 72. For over 45 years he attended and participated in Veterans Day and Memorial Day services. In the mid 1990’s he joined the Wellesley Celebrations Committee to help organize and run the Veterans Memorial Service and the Veteran’s Day Parade.

The biggest heartache and challenge to John and Mary Ellen was when their son, Joseph, was stricken with Reyes Syndrome at the age of 5. The disease swells and damages the brain, leaving the victim physically and mentally handicapped. They dedicated their lives to meeting and overcoming the challenges they faced to provide Joseph with the best life he could have.

Visiting hours will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., Wellesley on Wednesday, December 4th from 4-7pm. Funeral from the funeral home on Thursday, December 5th at 9am, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Julia’s Church, Weston at 10am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment St. Mary Cemetery, Needham.

Expressions of sympathy may be made in John’s memory to St. Bonaventure Indian Mission & School, 25 Navarre Blvd. West, Thoreau, NM., 87323. John will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.

If you’d like us to run a complete obituary of your loved one on Swellesley, please send to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com