John ‘Jay‘ Williams passed away peacefully at his home in Bradford on August 4, 2025 with his family by his side, he was 84 years old.
He was born in Lowell on March 21, 1941, son of John Williams and Dorothy (Corbett) Williams of Carleton Square, Bradford. He attended elementary Schools in Bradford and he graduated from Haverhill Trade School with the class of 1959. During his senior year at high school, he was happy to meet and greet Senator John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, when they made a visit to Haverhill Trade School to address the student body while on a campaign stop in Haverhill.
After high school, Jay worked at Transitron. Then he became a bricklayer working with big crews building hospitals, schools, and churches, he belonged to the Bricklayers Union No. 10 Lawrence and No. 12 Lynn, MA for 10 years. Following that he sold and installed large commercial compactors for high rise buildings in the Boston area. Later, with his knowledge and skills in the building trades, he began building homes and renovating apartment buildings.
His faith in God was an important part of his lite. He often made a quick visit to a church for rest, prayer and reflection. He attended Sunday Mass every week. He was a member of Sacred Hearts Church in Bradford, and he also attended St. James Church as well. While vacationing with his wife Jane in the summer of 1972 he and many other tourists were able to have a public audience with Pope Paul VI in the courtyard at Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer residence outside the City of Rome.
He is survived by his wife Jane (Nowicki) Williams; siblings James Williams of RI, Dorthy Buckley of Bradford and Sharon Reynolds of No. Andover; sister in-law Nancy Curtin of Bradford and many nieces, nephews and cousins; predeceased by his siblings Joseph Williams, Margaret Voisine, Patricia Driscoll and Gail Yannalfo. His memories will remain with us always, as long as we shall live.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 9, in Sacred Hearts Church, 165 S. Main Street, Haverhill from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery, Haverhill. For guestbook, visit www.driscollcares.com
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of John ‘Jay’ Williams, please visit our floral store.