Raymond C. Daly

Leicester - Raymond Charles Daly was born October 25, 1942 in Worcester, one of five children to the late Frederick and Edna (Adams) Daly. Raised in Worcester, he graduated from North High School and later served in the Army National Guard as Second Lieutenant in the 181st Infantry. 

Ray was a police officer for the City of Worcester, working for many years as a patrolman and a member of the SWAT team before retiring in 1983. He was widely respected among colleagues and is easily remembered for his tough persona, physical presence and reliability. His reputation endured long after he left the force.

After raising his three children in Shrewsbury, Ray found love and companionship when he met Phyllis M. DeForest. They have been together for more than 42 years. They lived in Worcester and Paxton before making Leicester their home in 2014.

Ray embraced life at full throttle. He loved a fast ride on his motorcycle, working hard and staying fit and busy with friends and family.

A true jack of all trades, Ray had the rare distinction of mastering every one of them. After retiring from the department, he became a self‑employed contractor, excelling in all areas of construction from building to landscape and everything in between. Ray owned every tool imaginable, often in multiples. We don’t think he parted with any of them in all his 83 years!

Helping people was simply part of who Ray was. Family, friends, neighbors, and even people he barely knew could count on him when they needed something. If someone needed to build a deck, put in windows, build a stone wall, put on a new roof – any job big or small – they called Ray. And if something was broken, he'd figure out how to fix it. Ingenuity and whatever happened to be in the garage were usually enough to get started. He was the true O.G. of DIY long before YouTube existed, and his children, grandchildren and friends were the beneficiaries of countless hands-on tutorials and “watch me, I’ll show you how” lessons. He may have also said once or twice, “get of the way, I’ll just do it.”

Ray loved listening to music, especially 1950s rock and roll, reading every book more than once and doing crossword puzzles. His daily coffee hour at Wendy’s with friends was a cherished ritual. His unique sense of humor and knack for storytelling entertained his many friends and family. He joyfully embraced his role as a grandfather and great-grandfather.

Throughout his life he remained physically active, committed to lifting weights and staying fit, a routine he maintained even in recent months. He was dependable, straightforward, and the kind of person you wanted around when things went sideways.

Ray was a classic New Englander: work hard, figure it out, and if something needs doing, do it. He was stubborn, independent, funny, occasionally difficult and loyal. He was also generous, dependable, and there when people needed him.

Ray lived with purpose, curiosity, and grit. He worked hard, laughed often, shared his opinions, and never stopped moving forward. He was one of the smartest people we knew. His legacy is one of strength, craftsmanship, loyalty, and love.

When family would tell him to sit down and rest, he always said, “I’ll rest when I’m dead.” Ray died peacefully on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 with family at his side after a brief illness. He was 83. 

In addition to his wife, Phyllis M. DeForest, he leaves his children, Sherri A. McFadden (Terence) of Putnam, Connecticut, Andrea M. Terry (Erik) of Annapolis, Maryland and Matthew C. Daly of E. Wareham; his step-children, Cynthia M. St. Germain (Jay Holdash) of Shrewsbury and Todd R. St. Germain (Lynn) of Walpole; his grandchildren, Ashley Graham (Brad), Jocelyn and Melanie McFadden, Paige Hampton (Matthew), Joshua and Christopher McFadden, James and Rebecca Terry, Jessica Whitehouse (Mark), Emilee Butler (Nathan) and Hayley St. Germain (Zachary Tweed); his great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Josephine, Amelia, Wesley, Henry, Eloise, Maxwell, Benjamin and Penelope; in-laws, Linda Daly of Worcester and Robert Arello of FL; also survived by many nieces & nephews. Brother of the late Frederick Daly (late Katrin Svala), Richard Daly (late Dawn), Joanne Arello, and John Daly.

Family and friends will honor Ray's life by gathering for a Morning Wake on Saturday, August 15th from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. in Saint John's Church, 44 Temple Street, Worcester, followed by his funeral Mass celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow in Saint John's Cemetery, Worcester.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or https://www.stjude.org/ or Saint John's Food for the Poor Program, 20 Temple Street, Worcester, MA 01604 https://www.stjohnsfoodforthepoor.org/about

Arrangements by James + John Heald of The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, Waltham.