Donald G. Day of Tewksbury, MA, and Marco Island, FL, aged 74, passed away unexpectedly on December 27, 2023.  He was born in Montgomery, WV, on April 29, 1949, the son of the late Barbara (Nutter) and Gerald Day.  Don spent his early years living in Lunenburg, MA, before moving to Billerica late in his teen years, graduating from Billerica Memorial High School with the class of 1967.  As a child he loved all sports, especially playing football and baseball.

Upon returning from four years of service in the United States Navy, he settled in Billerica with his first wife and two daughters and began a career in property management.

In July 1981, he met his true love and soulmate Maria Galluzzo, and they were married on November 5, 1983.  They settled in Woburn and lived there for almost 30 years, raising their three children.  In those years, Don and Maria created a beautiful and loving home, working through numerous renovations and fanatically tending to their yard and garden.  There wasn't a day that didn't start and end with a cup of coffee.

In his retirement years, Don followed the warm weather, enjoying the winter months in Marco Island with Maria and an abundance of friends.  He loved spending days on the beach, Monday night Bingo, and the Friday Fish Fry at Residents' Beach.  With limited time in Tewksbury during the summer months, he kept busy tending to his vegetable garden and watching for hummingbirds.  He was a loyal fan of all Boston sports, especially the Patriots and Celtics.

Don was diagnosed in 2016 with Inclusion Body Myositis, a condition causing muscle weakness and irreparable muscle damage.  While this slowed him down a bit, it did not stop him and he could still be found supporting and cheering on his grandchildren at their many activities, and he was always the center of attention at a family gathering or party with friends.

In addition to his wife, Don is lovingly survived by his five children, Jennifer Couillard and her husband, Charles, of Tewksbury, MA; Rebecca Carroll and her husband, Matthew, of Westford, MA; Diana DeMonico and her husband, Christopher, of Sandown, NH; Dawn Cossette and her wife, Kaylie, of Tewksbury, MA; and Christopher Day of Burlington, MA.  He adored his eleven grandchildren, Christopher London; Allison and Gabrielle Couillard; Madelyn, Grace, Katie and Quinn Carroll; Caylee and Christopher DeMonico; Natalie Martin; and Nathan Day.  In addition, he was eagerly anticipating the April 2024 arrival of another grandson, Logan Cossette.  He leaves two sisters, Donna Brazas and her husband, Ken, of Canaan, NH, and Elida Day of Summerfield, FL; a brother-in-law, Peter Galluzzo, and his husband, Kevin Moriarty; as well as three nieces and a nephew.  He was blessed to be surrounded in love and will be greatly missed by so many others.

Don was predeceased by his brother, Richard Day.

Friends and relatives are invited to calling hours on Tuesday, January 2nd from 4-7 PM at the Carrier Family Funeral Home, 38 Range Rd, Windham, NH. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 3rd at 11 AM at the funeral home. Cremation will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Don's memory to Myositis Support and Understanding at www.understandingmyositis.org.  In the months and years following his diagnosis, Don found a great deal of support and compassion here, and he was able to connect with others living with this rare condition.

For directions or to send a message of condolence to the family, please visit www.carrierfuneralhome.com.