William B. Caruso, “Tilly”, 98, of Buzzards Bay (formerly of Abington and East Weymouth) passed away peacefully on Jan. 12, surrounded by members of his loving family. Mr. Caruso was the loving husband of the late Iva Mae (Barstow) Caruso to whom he was married for 70 years. He was born Sept. 10, 1919, the third oldest child of Biaggo and Josephine (D’Alesandro) Caruso of East Weymouth.

Bill, as he was later known, studied accounting at Northeastern University but left school during the war years to work at the Fore River shipyard, where he was a union steward and strong promoter of the rights of labor. In the early 1960s he became the owner of Denly’s Gardens, an Italian restaurant in East Weymouth, that remains a family business today since 1932. He retired to his summer home in Buzzards Bay in 1987, where he enjoyed fishing and clamming in his beloved bay. His retirement also enabled him to freely pursue his life-long passion for the game of golf. For many years, Bill was a scratch golfer and a Gold member of the Thorney Lea Country Club in Brockton. He also belonged to a variety of fraternal organization. For many years, he was a Golden Eagle in Rockland, but his 50-year membership in the Wareham order of the Elks was his most beloved. The Caruso family will always be grateful to the members of the Wareham Elks for their caring devotion to Bill in his later years. Bill was a wonderful friend, husband, father, and grandfather, who enriched the lives of all who knew him.

Bill is survived by his six children: William Caruso Jr. and his wife Sue of Jensen Beach, Florida, Mary Jane McCarthy of Falmouth, Richard Caruso and his wife Ellen of Hanover, Ann Caruso Marsh of Long Boat Key Florida, Lisa Caruso Jantzen and her husband Brian of New York City, and Grace Herron of Sedona Arizona. He was the loving grandfather of 18 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. He was also the brother Richard Caruso and his wife Judy of Westwood, Marie Wilkinson of Wollaston and the late Josephine McGonagle, Patrick Caruso, Phyllis Iovanna and Joseph Caruso. He was the brother in-law of the late Harold Donovan, Adeline Currie and Dorothy Cohoon.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday, Jan. 15, from 2 to 4 p.m. only in the Wareham Village Funeral Home 5 Center St., Wareham. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. To leave a message of condolence for the family, visit www.warehamvillagefuneralhome.com. Funeral services and burial will be private.