James E. "Jim" Gallant," 90, of West Roxbury, MA, died suddenly July 15, 2020, in Boston in the company of his wife, Catherine M. Gallant, known as "Kay," and son, Jim, of Arlington, MA.

Born in Worcester, MA, Jim was the youngest of nine siblings, including Katherine, Francis, Marie, Ernest, Raymond, Kevin, Jean and Bob, all deceased. He is survived by his beloved niece, Denise Cobb, of Centerville, MA, nephew, Paul Smallcomb, of San Francisco, and grandnieces Allison Friedman of Watertown, MA, and Margaret Cobb, of Boston, who knew him fondly as "Uncle Jimmy."

To the many nieces and nephews Jim leaves behind on the Gallant side of the family, he was "Uncle Buddy." His favorite family tradition was enjoying Thanksgiving weekends at his sister Jean O'Loughlin's home in Long Island, NY, along with her husband Joe and their children Anne, Jean, Noreen, Joellyn and Marty. Joining them were Jim's brothers Ray and Bob, Bob's wife Mary of Pittsfield, MA, and their children, Michael and Jennifer. This yearly gathering was full of love and joy, and yes, there was a kids' table for dinner and a chocolate turkey for everyone who ate their vegetables.

Jim graduated from St. John's High School in Worcester (now located in Shrewsbury) and worked at his brother Ray's service station before being drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served proudly during the Korean Conflict. After the war, Jim left the city he adored and moved to Boston, where he worked for decades in public service as a fraud investigator for the Commonwealth of MA. It was there that Jim met his cherished wife, Kay, and they were married at Blessed Sacrament Church in Jamaica Plain on June 16, 1962.

Jim was an active member of St. Angela's Parish in Mattapan, MA, and later Holy Name Parish, after moving to West Roxbury in 1978. He was a proud member of the American Legion and a longtime fixture at the Parkway YMCA until this winter, when businesses where shuttered due to the coronavirus. Such was his devotion to the Y that he has several lifetime achievement awards on his shelf. Through church, the Y and local coffee shops, Jim made many wonderful friends of all ages, who, along with his caring and supportive neighbors, were dedicated to him to the end.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Holy Name Church Centre St. West Roxbury, on Tuesday, July 21, at 11:00am. Visitation will be held in the Church from 9:30 to 11:00am. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Interment St. Joseph's Cemetery, West Roxbury. We ask all attendees to wear masks and practice social distancing to keep everyone safe.

The family cannot thank enough the nurses, doctors, chaplains and staff at Brigham and Women's Hospital, who were unfailingly caring to Jim and his wife and son in his final hours. In lieu of flowers, consider making a gift in Jim's name to the hospital at https://give.brighamandwomens.org/all-give/.

www.lawlerfuneralhome.com

Lawler and Crosby Funeral Home

617-323-5600