John Michael Shriber, 65, Served in Vietnam with the Marines

From the MacDonald, Rockwell & MacDonald Funeral Home

A celebration of life will be held in the American Legion Post 440, Newton on Nov. 3, 2013 for John Michael Shriber of Edgartown, formerly of Watertown and Newton, who passed away Oct. 9, 2013 at the age of 65 surrounded by family and friends. 

John Michael was a vibrant presence. He loved to tell stories and would enrapture an audience; from the small children in the family—who were
always drawn to his infectious laugh and wicked sense of play—to his aunts and uncles who he loved and respected very much, to all the rest of us in-between. 
 
Proud of his military service, John Michael enlisted in the Marines in 1967 with ten other young men from Watertown. He would go on to sign up for a second tour of duty. After being wounded in March 1969, John Michael returned to Watertown and then Newton a decorated veteran. He worked for a number of years on the railroad but was ultimately disabled by his service in Vietnam. 

The son of the late Emmet “Bill” Shriber and Mary Elene (Duffy) Shriber, he is survived by his wife of 35 years Mary Jane Reen. He is also survived by his sister Judith (Shriber) Lavigniac and her husband Michel of Forestdale; his brother Josef Mark Shriber of Medford; his brother in law David Hickey the surviving husband of his sister, the late Jeanne Shriber of Durham, N.C.; his nephew Michael Best and his wife Annie of Washington, D.C.; his sister in law Judith Alice Reen, his sister in law JoAnne Ames and his niece Mary Jane Ames all of Weymouth. John Michael was also part of a large extended family, including his uncle the late James Duffy and his surviving wife Pam Duffy of Belmont; his uncle Norman J. Duffy and his wife Cynthia of Lexington; his uncle Robert L. Duffy and his wife Natalie of Weston; his aunt, Marie (Duffy) Barry, wife of the late Hon. John Barry of Pittsfield, his uncle the late Harvey D. Duffy and his surviving wife Joan Duffy of Lexington; his aunt, the late Kathleen Shirley (Duffy) Burke, wife of the late Edwin Burke and his surviving wife Mary Burke now of Acton; the late Edmund Duffy and his wife the late Joan Duffy formerly of Vermont; his aunt Donna (Shriber) Enzor and her husband Charles of Peoria, Ill.; his aunt Bonnie (Shriber) Randall, wife of Charles of Knoxville, Ill.; and his aunt Pat Shriber of Normal Ill., as well as many cousins who were dear to him. 

With his passing, the world is a slightly less interesting place and all who knew him will miss his stories, his fun, his wicked smile, his intelligence and the everyday joy of knowing that you might be talking to him soon.
 
A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday Nov. 3, 2013 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the American Legion Nonatum Post 440, 295 California St. Newton, MA. 

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in John Michael’s name to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services 111 Edgartown Road Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 (508-693-7900).

A full private Marine Military burial will take place in the spring at the Arlington National Cemetery.