Joseph DeGuilio, Jr, passed from this life to new life on Wednesday, October 7. Joe was born and raised in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, as the first son of Ellen (Sullivan) and Joseph DeGuilio, Sr, on June 9, 1931. On April 11, 1953, he married Rose L. DeBellis at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church in Mt Vernon, New York.

He was a United States Army veteran who served as a Munitions Specialist stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey. After his service and marriage to Rose, he had a long career with the Continental Baking Company (Wonder Bread/Hostess). After an early retirement, he spent another decade working for the Town of Eastchester. He and Rose bought their first home, a 1920s Sears & Roebuck house on Merritt Avenue in Eastchester, in 1964, where they raised a family and contributed to their community. After a second retirement, he and Rose relocated to Heritage Village in Southbury, becoming involved in town as well as village activities. Both served for many years on the Board of Elections.

Joe was a true patriot, a member of the “greatest generation” serving and honoring his country with tremendous pride and always thankful that the Army put him on the right path to adulthood. His membership to both the American Legion and the Catholic War Veterans demonstrated his lifelong dedication and appreciation of the time he served. Dad will be forever remembered as an extremely industrious man who often took on second or third jobs to support his family. His amazing gift to repair almost anything came from his humble beginnings which taught him never to be wasteful and to make sure you always had “the right tools.” His legendary solutions for household dilemmas kept our home running smoothly and gave him bragging rights over all the repairmen he “never” hired! And well into his 80s he was still the most meticulous painter, cutting a line with a brush with no need for painter’s tape!

Having grown up in a large Irish-Italian Catholic family, he never lost his love of his home state of Rhode Island, his love of the ocean, good New England seafood, and above all else his obsession with his beloved Boston Red Sox, who made him wait 73 years to win the pennant! His love of the Red Sox, although significant, would never eclipse the love he expressed for our sainted mother, Rose, who predeceased him on May 22, 2014.

We are confident going forward that he is at peace, reunited with mom already watching over all of us. His legacy continues with his son Billy (Isabel) and his grandchildren Christine, Billy Jr, Vicky, and Charlie; his daughter, Lucille (Michael), and his grandchildren, MJ Jr (Jenny), Elizabeth, Meredith, and Julie; his son John (Jennifer) and her children. He also leaves his great-grandchildren Rosie, Michael III, and James Sullivan LaPerch.

He is now reunited with his beloved Rose; parents; sisters, Carolyn, Ann, Mary, and Barbara; as well as his brothers, Gerald, Richard, and Charles.

He and Rose were longtime volunteers at the Southbury Food Bank, which they truly loved. In keeping with his wishes, in lieu of flowers we ask that donations be sent to the Southbury Food Bank, 88 Main Street South, Southbury CT 06488; or to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org in his memory.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 10, at 10 am in Sacred Heart Church, 910 Main Street, Southbury. Burial with military honors will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, N.Y. Calling hours will be prior to Mass at the Carpino Funeral Home, 750 Main Street South, Southbury, beginning at 9 am on Saturday. For directions or to leave a message of remembrance, please visit carpinocares.com.