Wenham - John Crean Cronan, 86, of Wenham, died Monday August 7, 2017 at the Kaplan Hospice House in Danvers, MA, after battling melanoma. He was married to his childhood sweetheart Joan (Bois) Cronan for nearly 65 years.
Born in Salem, MA on October 5, 1930, he was the son of the late Elizabeth (Crean) and Francis Cronan. John grew up in Salem and graduated from St. Mary’s Boys High School Lynn in 1950. John entered the Marine Corp that same year during the Korean War and was honorably discharged as a sergeant. Married in 1952 the Cronan’s raised their family in Peabody. He retired early from GTE Sylvania in 1986 after 35 years as Supervisor of Manufacturing at the Loring Ave Plant, Salem. He then worked at the Essex Aggie in Danvers and retired in 1996.
John was a member of St. Ann’s Church in Peabody for 44 years and after moving to Wenham in 2001, was a Eucharistic minister at St. Paul’s Church in Hamilton. John cherished his Catholic faith. He peacefully and humbly placed himself in God’s hands. His spirit will stay with us forever.
In addition to his wife Joan, John is survived by his son, Mark and wife Sonia of Taunton, his son, Kevin and wife Theresa of Danvers, and his daughter, Rosemary Astrofsky and her husband Scott of Lynnfield. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren whom he adored. John leaves a brother, Jerome Cronan and his wife Aileen of Kansas and many cherished nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his daughter, Carolyn Cronan Pelletier, infant son John, brothers, Tony, Cubby, and Gerard Cronan and his sisters, Mary T LaBelle and Rosemary Ward.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Church of St. Paul, 50 Union Street, Hamilton, Friday, August 11, 2017 at 9 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours at the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, Beverly, Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. Contributions may be made in his memory to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, Danvers, MA 01923 or to the Church of St. Paul, 50 Union St., Hamilton, MA 01982. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com .