William J. “Billy” Nolan, age 67, beloved husband of Pamela F. (Maffeo) Nolan, died Tuesday at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington after a brief illness with his family by his side.
He was born in Malden on March 4, 1958, a son of the late Walter M. and Norma R. (Jensen) Nolan. He lived in Malden and Medford before moving to Billerica in 1999.
Billy graduated from Malden Catholic High School and then proudly served in the U.S. Navy for four years, including time aboard the USS John F. Kennedy, before beginning a 35-year career as a conductor for Amtrak.
He was a member of the Billerica Lodge of Elks, the VFW Solomon Post, and the Malden Irish American Club.
Billy embraced life with energy and enthusiasm and was truly the life of the party, bringing laughter and light into any room he entered. He loved traveling, belting out karaoke tunes, decorating for the holidays, and spending time with his pets. Above all else, he cherished every moment with his family and friends, especially the time he spent with his treasured grandson, who brought him endless pride and joy.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Olivia Maffeo; William J. Nolan Jr. and his companion, Leeanne Vala; and Shauna Nolan and her companion, Tim Hamilton, all of Billerica; his beloved grandson, Jackson Cole MacDonald; his siblings, Andrea MacDonald and her husband, Daniel, of Tewksbury, and Mark Nolan and his wife, Maria, of South Yarmouth; and his sister-in-law, Paula Biagioni, of Medford; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Visiting hours will be held Sunday, February 22, 2026, at the Sweeney Memorial Funeral Home, 66 Concord Rd., Billerica, from 1–4 p.m.
***DATE CHANGE***
A graveside service will be held TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2026 at Fox Hill Cemetery, 130 Andover Rd., Billerica, at 12:30 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the MSPCA at www.mspca.org (http://www.mspca.org/).
Previous Events
Visitation
22
Feb
66 Concord Road
Billerica, MA 01821
Graveside
24
Feb
130 Andover Rd.
Billerica, MA 01821
