James D. O'Brien

James (Jimmy) O’Brien, 85, of Allentown, PA, passed away peacefully on September 3 surrounded by his beloved family.

Jimmy was born on March 23, 1940, in Germantown, PA, to Mildred (Leone) and William O’Brien. A graduate of North Catholic High School in Philadelphia, he managed and owned garment factories in and around Allentown. He was devoted to his family and enjoyed spending time with his siblings, his daughter and son-in-law, and his grandchildren. Jimmy loved cooking, dancing, traveling to Philadelphia, and going down the shore.

Jimmy, also known as “Suede”, will be remembered for his quick wit, his unique sense of humor, and the ability to make those around him laugh by his crazy sense of fun and by telling funny stories.

Jimmy is survived by his wife Mary “Mae” (Elvin), his daughter Christine (Scott) and her husband David, his grandchildren Gabriella (Wachowski) and her husband Nicholas, Anthony, Giulianna, and Dominic, his sisters Susan (Zimmerman), Kathleen (Ferguson), Fran O’Brien, and Mary (DiCondina) and her husband Dominic, and his brother Joseph O’Brien and his wife Linda. He was preceded in death by his parents, his Uncle Mickey and Aunt Bea, his brothers William and Dominic, and his sister Mildred O’Brien.

Services are planned for Tuesday, September 9, 2025, with calling time from 10:15am to 10:45am. A funeral mass is to follow at 11am at St. Ursula Catholic Church, 1300 Broadway, Fountain Hill, PA 18105, with internment at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery in Fullerton. Funeral arrangements by the Sell-Herron Funeral Home in Allentown. www.Herronfuneralhomecares.com 

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in his memory to St. Luke’s Hospice, c/o St. Luke’s University Health Network Development Office, 801 Ostrum St., Bethlehem, PA 18015.