James M. Gralton, 92, died peacefully May 2 at Massachusetts General Hospital surrounded by his loving family.

            James was born in South Boston in the Carney Hospital on May 4, 1924 to the late Michael and Bridget (Garrett) Gralton.  He was raised in South Boston and was a graduate of South Boston High School, Class of 1943.  He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of World War II Service.  He was employed by the United States Postal Services as a Facilities Engineer at the South Postal Annex in South Boston for over 40 years.  Following his marriage to Mary M. (Regan) Gralton at St Ann’s Church in 1965, James and Mary settled in Quincy to begin their married life and raise their family.  Devoted father of Robert Gralton and his wife Tina, Maureen (Gralton) Durgin and her husband, John, Kathryn (Gralton) Hobin, and Scott Logan, Karen (Gralton) Hickey and her husband Brian.  Loving grandfather of Garrett, Connor and Erin Gralton, Timothy, Bridget and Eileen Durgin, Donald and Fallon Hobin, Grace, Robert and Nora Hickey.  James is also survived by a niece Laura (Duzynski) Shea, nephews Michael Duzynski and the late Lawrence Duzynski.  A brother Robert Gralton and a sister Anna (Gralton) Duzynski pre-deceased him. James is also survived by many loving cousins in Boston and New York. He was a cousin of the late Most Reverend Lawrence J. Riley, S.T.D.

            James was a member of the Pierre Marquette Council, Knights of Columbus in South Boston, Perkins Post American Legion, and, for over 43 years, a member of the Quincy Post 95 American Legion where he served as Vice Commander and Adjutant. Also, he was a devoted communicant of the Parish of St Ann in Wollaston for 52 years.

            James was very proud of his Irish heritage. James and Mary were members of the Irish Music Club of Greater Boston. James and Mary, their children and their grandchildren, attended many Irish festivals in the greater Boston area and in the Catskill region of New York over the past 45 years. He was a proud Irish American, and never forgot his Irish roots in County Leitrim and County Mayo, Ireland.

            James will be remembered as a good and decent man devoted to his faith, family, friends and country. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered by all who were blessed to have known him. May he rest in peace.

            Visiting hours will be Friday, May 12, from 4-8 p.m. at the Lydon Funeral Home.  A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30, May 13, at the Parish of St. Ann, followed by interment at Mt. Wollaston Cemetery, Quincy.

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