About Us

Jim was the son of the late Timothy E. and Katherine A. (Sullivan) Delaney and was raised in Walpole, Massachusetts with his seven brothers and sisters. He graduated from Walpole High School with the Class of 1938 and started classes at the New England Institute of Sanitary Science in Boston, which at the time was a six-month program. After graduation, Jim enlisted in the United States Army. While he was stationed with the 101st Infantry Regiment, 26th Yankee Division, the United States was drawn into World War II, and Jim was sent overseas to take part in the European Theatre of Operations, where he would be promoted to Technical Sergeant. Upon his discharge, Jim returned home to Walpole only to find out that the six-month program at the New England Institute had been extended to nine months.

Jim worked several jobs after his discharge including at his brother's gas station, Ted's Sunoco, the Walpole Post Office, Dalton's Package Store, and the window at the Foxboro Race Track. He married the love of his life, Ellen B. Moran, in 1950 and together they made their home on Hutchinson Road in Walpole. Jim eventually returned to school, finishing the requirements for his Diploma from the New England Institute in 1957, and after obtaining his license, Jim moved his young family into the second floor of the property at 48 Common Street and opened the James H. Delaney Funeral Home on the first floor. The building saw many changes after Jim started his business, after seeing the need for more space, he added the rear addition in 1970 and added the front portico in 1976.

On July 27, 1987, Jim officially retired after selling the family business to his son, Jay, however, unofficially he never really retired. He could be found in the front hall of many wakes and funerals, greeting people that he knew from around town. He remained active in his community and was a Life member of the Walpole VFW Post 5188, a member of The American Legion Thomas Crowley Post 104, the Walpole Knights of Columbus Council 1319, Irish Social Club- Norwood, a former member of the Walpole Rotary Club, a former member of the Walpole Zoning Board of Appeals, Veteran Memorial Committee, and the Walpole a'" Canton Barbershoppers. In addition as a man of great faith, Jim served as an usher at the Noon Mass every Sunday at Blessed Sacrament Church in Walpole.

Jim passed away on July 30, 2010, however, he leaves a wonderful legacy, both personal and professional. He would be thrilled to know that his son and grandson have picked up where he left off, continuing to own and operate the Delaney Funeral Home.

Jay is a lifelong resident of Walpole, spending his early years on Hutchinson Road before his father and mother purchased the property at 48 Common Street in Walpole, converting an old Tudor style home into the James H. Delaney Funeral Home. Jay was raised on the second floor of the funeral home, attending Stone School and the West Junior High School (Johnson Middle School now) before beginning his academic career at Walpole High School. As an avid photographer, Jay could be found behind the camera taking photos for the WHS Yearbook and various other printings produced by the school. He graduated with the Class of 1972 and continued his education at Curry College, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in 1976.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Jay enrolled in the New England Institute located in Kenmore Square in Boston, graduating Cum Laude in 1977. After passing the American Board of Funeral Service Education’s National Conference Exam and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Funeral Director’s Exam, Jay was granted his Embalmer’s license in the Fall of 1977 and his Funeral Director’s License in the Spring of 1978. Jay decided to find a different perspective of funeral service after graduation, taking a position with O’Connor Brother’s Funeral Home in Worcester.

Jay left the family business for a while and worked for almost 8 years with Whirlpool Corporation, spending some time in the Portland, Maine office, before returning to Boston as the branch operations manager. Jay left Whirlpool in April of 1987, purchasing the Delaney Funeral Home from his father on July 27, 1987. He has proudly served his community of Walpole for over 30 years.

As an active member of his community, Jay is member of the Walpole Lions Club, Walpole Chamber of Commerce, the Mass Cruisers (a car club), the Walpole Knights of Columbus Council 1319, a former member of the Walpole Scholarship Committee, and is elected to the Board of Directors of the Walpole Housing Authority.

Jay’s passion for funeral service did not stop at the purchase of the funeral home, but rather he continued to give back to the young students in school, teaching Embalming, Anatomical Dissection, and Mortuary Law at the New England Institute at Mount Ida College. He later taught Ethics and Current Topics in Funeral Service at the Funeral Institute of the Northeast (FINE).

In 2008, the opportunity arose to purchase the home on School Street directly behind the funeral home, and Jay quickly purchased it for his own home.

Jim is a lifelong resident of Walpole, and while he was born in Stoughton, his parents quickly brought him home to their apartment located next door to the funeral home. He spent his early years living next to the funeral home, closely watching his father and grandfather as they cared for members of their community. After settling in East Walpole in the early 1990s with his family, Jim attended Old Post Road Elementary School and Bird Middle School, where Jim found his love for music, bringing his talent for the trumpet to the middle school band. Jim continued playing the trumpet at Walpole High School, becoming a member of the band and orchestra and was asked to perform TAPS at the Saint Francis Cemetery Memorial Day Service. He was later tapped to join the pit orchestra providing music for the high school drama productions, before graduating with the Class of 2002. Following graduation, Jim spent a few years sharpening his academic skills at Massachusetts Bay Community College before graduating from the University of Massachusetts at Boston with a degree in Psychology.

Following in his grandfather’s and father’s footsteps, Jim went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude from the New England Institute at Mount Ida College with his degree in Funeral Service in 2009. For his academic excellence and promise of being a true asset in the funeral profession, Jim was granted the Dodge Award, in memory of the founder of the New England Institute and was inducted into Pi Sigma Eta, the national honor society for funeral service. While graduation marked the end of formal educational training, Jim continues to improve his skills through various conferences, seminars, and hands on training in Massachusetts and throughout the country.

Jim has proudly worked at the Delaney Funeral Home for many years, starting when he was in high school. He always showed an interest in what his father and grandfather did for work and they quickly found a position for him, cleaning the funeral home. After graduating from high school, Jim was granted his apprentice license, allowing him to take on a more active role in the funeral home, although cleaning was still high on his priority list. In 2010, after passing the American Board of Funeral Service Education’s National Conference Exam and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Funeral Director’s Exam, Jim was granted his Embalmer and Funeral Director’s License, and continues to work alongside his father.