William E. Tansey

December 02, 2007

William E. Tansey, 82 of Fall River, husband of Barbara L. (Sisson) Tansey entered into rest Sunday, December 2, 2007 at Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River, Massachusetts.

A lifelong resident of Fall River, he was the son of the late William E. and Mary V. (Walsh) Tansey. He was a communicant of Saints Peter and Paul Parish at Holy Cross Church.

Mr. Tansey was a graduate of Saints Peter and Paul Class of 1939 and B.M.C. Durfee Class of 1943. He attended General Motors Institute, Flint Michigan.

Mr. Tansey was employed by the Fall River Herald News from 1945-1948; Warren Textile & Machinery Co., W.T. Manning Co., Inc. and the Division of Employment Security from 1963-1989 serving in Attleboro, Taunton, New Bedford and Fall River offices retiring as a Supervising Manager in Fall River.

Mr. Tansey was active in several areas. He served in the Fall River Civil Defense Agency beginning in 1942, as a plane watcher during World War II. Mr. Tansey became a member of the Fall River Auxiliary Fire Department in 1958 and continued his affiliation for many years becoming Chief in 1975. The Auxiliary assisted at major fires and represented Fall River at Fire Musters throughout the region. He continued to serve the Fall River Emergency Management Agency as a Deputy Director from 1980 to 1996 and as Director from1996 to 2005. Mr. Tansey was associated with the American Red Cross for many years. He held the position of Emergency Services Chairman from 1983-1986 and Chapter Chairman from 1986-1990 and again from 1993-1995.

Mr. Tansey was active in his parish as an usher, Eucharistic Minister from 1994-2006 as well as serving on the Saints Peter and Paul Parish Council Finance Committee. In 2004 he was honored by Saints Peter and Paul School as that years Distinguished Graduate.

Besides his wife of fifty-five years he leaves, three sons, William E. Tansey and his wife Pauline, Arthur M. Tansey, John R. Tansey and his wife Susan all of Fall River, MA; one daughter, Kathryn A. Dow and her husband Howland of Fall River, MA; four grandsons, James H. Dow of Fall River, MA; Kevin W. Tansey of Fall River, MA; Christopher W. Tansey of Fall River, MA; Matthew J. Tansey of Little Compton, R.I., four granddaughters, Lauren A. Tansey of Fall River, Erin M. Tansey of Fall River, Katelynne A. Dow of Fall River, Nicole Nunes of Assonet, MA; one brother, Thomas F. Tansey of Westport, MA; one sister, Jan (Margaret) Pietraszek of Fall River, MA; Mr. Tansey was the brother of the late, Arthur and James Russell Tansey.

Funeral Information

His Funeral will be held Friday, December 7, 2007at 9:30 am from the Hathaway Home for Funerals, 1813 Robeson St., Fall River, MA to be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am in Saints Peter and Paul Parish at Holy Cross Church, 47 Pulaski Street, Fall River. Burial will follow in Saint Patrick’s Cemetery, Robeson Street. Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 2:00-5:00 & 7:00-9:00 pm in the funeral home.

Donations Information

Donations in his memory made be made to: American Heart Association, Gifts Processing Center, PO Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220