Robert J. McLaughlin

Robert J. McLaughlin, 79, of Westborough, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, October 29, 2017. He was the husband of Felicia (Farnsworth) McLaughlin to whom he was married for 55 years.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 5, 1937, he was the son of the late John and Agnes (Eitelgeorge) McLaughlin. He was educated in Philadelphia and was a graduate of Northeast Catholic High School.

Upon graduation, he was employed as a draftsman at Philadelphia Gear before beginning his 43-year career with Mettler Toledo International, now the largest weighing company in the world. He began in the service department traveling around the country, assigned first to the western part of the US, before accepting an assignment to New England and settling in Westborough. In 1974, he transitioned to the sales department and continued to cover New England and upper New York state. Upon his retirement in 2005, Mettler created an annual award, “The Bob McLaughlin Legacy Award” in recognition of his dedication and outstanding service to his customers and company. 

Bob was a communicant of St. Luke the Evangelist Church where he served as a lector and taught CCD. He coached his sons in youth hockey and volunteered many hours with the Boy Scouts. He was fortunate to have traveled the world with Felicia, enjoyed his many home projects, and was a model train enthusiast his entire life.

In addition to his wife he is survived by five children, Matthew F. McLaughlin and his wife Kathy, of Holden, MA, Brian R. McLaughlin, of Westborough, MA, Kristin M. Desrochers and her husband Robert, of Chelmsford, MA, Karen E. McLaughlin and her husband George (Tim) Tomaich, of Jersey City, NJ, and Peter L. McLaughlin and his wife Lisa, of Westborough, MA. Bob had 13 grandchildren ranging in age from 25 to 3; Timothy Desrochers, Anne Desrochers, Elyse Desrochers, Sean McLaughlin-US Navy, Patrick McLaughlin, Katherine Desrochers, Rachel McLaughlin, Emily McLaughlin, Christopher Desrochers, Sofia McLaughlin, Ava McLaughlin, Natalie Tomaich, and Benjamin Tomaich.

Bob is also survived by his brother John F. McLaughlin, of Southampton, PA, and his sister Patricia Pickering, of Pennsauken, NJ. He was predeceased by three sisters, Rosemary Kennedy, Katherine Scott, and Jeanne Burke; and his brothers-in-law, Russell Pyle, Philip Scott, and Al Pickering.

His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 3, at 10:30 A.M. at St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 70 West Main St., Westborough. Burial will follow in St. Luke’s Cemetery.

Calling hours at the David A. Pickering Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St., Westborough, are Thursday, November 2, from 4 to 8 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory may be made to the St. Luke’s Memorial Fund and the Westborough Fire Department Ambulance Fund.

The family wishes to thank the Westborough Fire Department, Beaumont Nursing Home, Whittier and Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospitals, The Reservoir, UMASS Memorial Hospital and the staff at St. Luke the Evangelist Church for their loving care and support of Bob during these last years of his life.

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