Michael Joseph Croke

Michael Joseph Croke, 91                                                   August 31, 1926 - March 8, 2018Michael Joseph Croke, 91, of North Attleboro, MA, passed away peacefully at his own home in North Attleboro on Thursday, March 8, 2018. He was the beloved husband of Brigid C. (Holohan) Croke, to whom he was married on April 29, 1959 at the Pro Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland.Born on August 31, 1926 in Ballintaggart, Tipperary, Ireland, he was the son of the late John and Johanna (Purcell) Croke.Raised and educated in Ireland, he was a graduate of The National School of Ballintaggart. Michael worked for more than thirty years for Bliss Brothers Dairy in Attleboro, MA, before retiring in 1988.A resident of North Attleboro for the past fifty years, he previously lived in Attleboro and was a member of St. Mark's Parish in Attleboro Falls.An honest and sincere man of great faith, he was proud of his Irish heritage. Michael had been a farmer in Ireland and was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Irish American Club of Cape Cod, where he had a vacation home in West Yarmouth. He enjoyed Irish waltzes, playing the accordion, watching 7:00 p.m. Mass on television, working around the yard and supporting the Boston Celtics. In his younger days, he played Gaelic football and hurling for Ballintaggart. He was a gifted storyteller and captivated his family and grandchildren with tales of his days in Ireland. More than anything, Michael loved his family and his cherished grandchildren.In addition to his wife, Brigid, he leaves his loving children: Johanna M. "Joanne" of North Attleboro; Michael G. Croke and his wife, Lauren (Linakis) Croke, of North Attleboro; John Patrick Croke and his wife, Patricia M. (Brunell) Croke, of Plainville, MA; Mary Geraldine (Croke) Mendonca and her husband, Mario J. Mendonca, of North Attleboro; and Caroline B. (Croke) Vanacore and her husband, Alfred A. Vanacore, Jr., of North Attleboro. He was the proud and adoring grandfather of Caron More Shores and her husband, Ryan Shores, Brendan Martin Grealish, Connor Patrick Grealish, Shauna Victoria Croke, Michael Joseph Croke, Ryan Patrick Croke, Erin Cathleen Croke, Caitlyn Brigid Croke, Molly Noreen Croke, Eilish Mary Mendonca-Leary and her husband, Matthew Leary, Aine Mary Mendonca, Brigit Mary Mendonca, Tomhas Mario Mendonca, John Joseph Vanacore, Joseph Michael Vanacore, and Andrew Patrick Vanacore. Michael was predeceased by his siblings: Josephine Birch, Thomas Croke, John Croke, Peter Croke, and his baby sister, Kathleen Croke. He leaves several nieces and nephews and many dear friends.Friends and family are cordially invited to honor and remember Michael by gathering for a Visitation on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. in the "Memorial Chapel" of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, MA. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend the Funeral Service on Thursday, March 15, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. from the "Memorial Chapel" of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, North Attleboro, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mark's Parish, 105 Stanley Street, Attleboro Falls, MA.Burial services will immediately follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Towne Street, Attleboro Falls.A Children's Room is available during the visitation and funeral service.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Michael's name to either the Thomas G. Bury, Jr. Scholarship Fund, c/o Sharon Credit Union, 73 North Washington Street, North Attleboro, MA 02760, or to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005, or AHA on-line, and kindly mention Michael in the memorial.For additional information or to send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. (508) 695-0200