THORNTON, Joseph F. "PapaJoe". In Brookline, formerly of Mission Hill, passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family on November 21, 2020. Beloved husband of Mary Claire (Slymon) Thornton. Loving father of Kathy Keeley and her husband Dennis of West Roxbury, Maureen Carroll and her husband Danny of Norwood, Jo-Ann Harrington and her husband Philip of Brookline, Susie O'Donnell and her husband Bill of Norwood, Carolyn Riley and her husband Jack of Norwood, and Michele "Micki" Francis and her husband Jack of Fleming Island, FL. Dear brother of the late Thomas, Mary and John Thornton and Evelyn Barry. Also survived by his 18 adored grandchildren, 6 cherished great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, November 24th in the Bell-O'Dea Funeral Home, 376 Washington St., Brookline from 3:00 – 7:00. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 25th in St. Lawrence Church, Chestnut Hill at 11:00 AM. (COVID-19 guidelines will be followed in the funeral home and church with facial coverings and social distancing maintained, please limit time in the funeral home and limited capacity of 100 at the church.) Late member and employee of the former American Legion Mission Hill Post 327. Retired employee Boston Edison, Army Veteran of the Korean War. In lieu of flowers donations in Joe's memory may be made to help his granddaughter Jackie Keeley-Cunningham's Cancer Battle, https://www.gofundme.com/f/jackie039s-breast-cancer-battle For those unable to be with the family the Funeral Mass and interment will be live-streamed by following the link www.harborview.live