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BORN
1933
DIED
2016
Joseph Mc Aleese Obituary
Mc Aleese
March 8th 1933 ~ May 15th 2016
Joe Mc Aleese passed away in his native land, Ireland, on Sunday May 15th, 2016 after waging a long and difficult battle with Parkinson's disease. He faced that ordeal with the same dignity, strength and humor that made him a beloved father and grandfather, and earned him so many devoted friends and admirers.
Joe was born on Raglan Street, in the Falls Road area of Belfast, Ireland, the youngest of seven siblings. He lost his father when he was very young and, like most of the children of that time and place, he left school at an early age. Although he had little formal education, he became a prodigious reader and amateur scholar with a particular interest in history. When he was young, he was an avid cyclist and a passionate fan of jazz music. One day, combining his love for both, he rode from Belfast to Dublin to hear his favorite singer Ella Fitzgerald, who was touring with Dizzy Gillespie. To his great delight, he was able to meet them after the concert.
Always busy, Joe worked daily as a delivery-truck driver and on weekends as a bartender and, in the late 1960's, he was able to start his own successful trucking company. Due to the violent suppression of the Irish Civil Rights movement and the ensuing political upheaval, Joe decided it was best for his family to leave and in the late 70's with the help of his brother in law, Richard Mc Donald, he moved with his wife and five children to Vancouver, Canada. With the help of his sister, Bridget, who had moved to Los Angeles in the 1940's, he began the process of emigration to the U.S. and the family eventually settled in Seattle in 1979.
Upon arrival, Joe joined the ILWU and went to work on the waterfront. Eventually, he was able to fulfill his life-long dream of opening his own eating and drinking establishment and, after much hard work and swinging of the sledgehammer, Kells was opened in the Pike Place Market in 1983. With his good looks, easy charm and genuine interest in everyone he met, he made friends with the people from all walks of life and from all over the world who came to enjoy the hospitality at Kells.
In addition to his personal warmth and gift for making people feel welcome, Joe was a great entertainer and singer. At the end of the evening, he could usually be found on stage, singing in his fine baritone voice with whatever band was performing in the always crowded back bar. His repertoire included traditional Irish songs and ballads but his favorite song was "That Old Black Magic" and he always sang it in the style of his other favorite jazz singer, Joe Williams.
Joe is survived by his wife Ethna, who was always by his side through the good times and bad, his sister Margaret, his children Charles, Gerard, Karen, Paul, Patrick, and ten grandchildren.
He was handsome, well-spoken, well-read, charming, talented, hardworking and generous and he will be sorely missed by his family and his many friends. Beir Bua.
If you wish to pay tribute to Joe's life, please consider a donation to the Parkinson Foundation, http://www.parkinson.org
A memorial service is being planned at a date that will be announced later.
Please sign Joe's online Guestbook at www.Legacy.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Mc Aleese
Sponsored by The Family.
Jerry Boak
July 23, 2023
I fondly remember working for Joe, Ethna and the entire family at Kell's in the late 80's. Everyone loved them and Joe was the leader of this fine band. He is certainly missed. Wishing love and peace to the whole family.
Mick Odell
May 16, 2020
I think about you from time to time and miss your singing i am glad i knew you
Mick Odell
May 16, 2019
Well Joe i think about you quite often and our talks about Ireland and it now seems i am not just London Irish but 45 % Scots, Irish,Welsh and only 2% English. I liked you very much and loved your singing and look forward to meeting you again Someday.
Ken Moorhouse/McKenzie
July 15, 2016
My condolences to the entire McAleese family at the passing of Joe McAleese. I met Joe and many of his family about 1982 when visiting Kells. I was soon performing on the bagpipes for several years at Kells as Ken McKenzie. Joe would play the bodhran along with the pipes and he taught me how to play the bodhran. But none could compare to his beautiful voice. Spent many a wonderful evening with Joe and family and will miss him very much. May God Bless you Joe McAleese
Me and my cousin Brian
Dan Kavanaugh
July 14, 2016
Eileen Suggs
May 28, 2016
May you rest in peace, Joe.....on behalf of my dad(Roy Smith) and also my belated mom (Joan Smith) and myself.(Eileen S.) R.I.P...... Take care, Ethna.
James Walsh
May 27, 2016
Many happy memories of this nice and simple plan who was always ready with a smile, a story and a song. He's at peace now and with his maker.
May 25, 2016
I was saddened to hear of Joe's passing. I will have him in my thoughts and prayers. My condolences to Ethna and the McAleese family. I cherish my memories of Joe singing "O Danny Boy", and his friendliness to me whenever I saw him.
Steve Hopps
May 24, 2016
Such a lovely man. My family will miss you terribly. Love to the McAleese family.
Patty Kyle
Chuck and Roz McNeese
May 24, 2016
Our most sincere condolences to Ethna and the McAleese family. Joe was a true gentleman and person who drew talents from many areas. His presence was magnificent, his kindness was remarkable and he was a special and positive figure to the Seattle community. We were lucky to say that Joe was our friend.
May 23, 2016
David and I spent many enjoyable meals at Kells sometimes with the pleasure of Joe or Ethna's company at our table. We shared memories of Ireland and stories of friends we both knew.
Ethna and Family, know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of the loss of Joe, your husband, Father and Grandfather. We would like to hear when a service in Seattle will be taking place for Joe. May Joe rest in Peace. He will be missed.
Cathy and David D'Ambrosio
Cathy is from Cork, City, Ireland
Ken Long
May 23, 2016
We met Joe shortly after Kells opened. My wife is also from the North of Ireland and some friends said you have to try this restaurant and meet Joe and Ethna. We went with the friends to diner and spent the evening with either Joe or Ethna coming by the table asking "Do you know so and so. Yes we do, do you know so and so". It was a great night and they have been good friends ever since. I have many good memories of Joe, especially our conversations late at night, over a pint of the "Black Stuff". We will miss Joe, but know that he is now in a better place.
Ken and Peggy Long
May 22, 2016
Joe
Our family dearly loved you and enjoyed our many conversations at Kells. You, Ethna and your kids were great friends and epitomized hospitality.
We miss you and offer our condolences to the family you loved.
The Hartnetts
Seattle
Harry McCarthy
May 22, 2016
My wife Carole and I will miss him greatly. I always looked forward to his welcome, his wit and his Irish spirit. He and Ethna made Kell's a wonderful place to be for fun, great conversation, and traditional Irish environment. He loved Ireland and the USA . We were blessed to have had him in our lives. His like does not often come our way. Rest in peace, Joe.
Harry and Carole McCarthy
Michael Odell
May 22, 2016
Till we meet again Joe Mick Odell
Jan and Bruce O'Connor
May 22, 2016
My wife and I have been customers at Kells ever since we moved to our condo at 1st and Virginia the same year that Kells opened. Joe was always front and center and most gracious to us over the years. As his illness progressed in the past few years, he still made it a point of coming and talking to us. Many were the stories he told. But, we had no idea of his extensive life before he came to Seattle, other than that the family returned regularly to the Belfast area to visit their home there. His bars were always stocked with characters which we imagine were plotting a little revolution. We will particularly remember his characterization of those who came to the restaurant's yearly celebration of St. Patrick's Day: "don't come here that day, it's strictly amateur night for drinkers." Here's to a true professional in all that he did.
Jim & Brenda Altman Family
May 22, 2016
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Dave and Barbara Kinney
May 22, 2016
A true gentleman, scholar, and wonderful person who always had time to sit down at Kells with us, AND Talk AND share. A loving and devoted family man, who is sorely missed. Our prayers and love to your family. Blessed are we to have known ye Joe!
May your faithful soul be at God's right hand+
Rosemary
May 22, 2016
I have lived all around the country, but Kells was always my local. Whenever I came home, I could count on Paul (back in the day), Pierce, or one of the boys behind the front bar, to greet me warmly and update me on the local news. Mr. Mc Aleese built a wonderful gathering place, and will be warmly remembered for it.
May 22, 2016
Joe was a delightful man. It was always a great pleasure to talk to him at Kells. My condolences to Ethna and the family.
Blair Culter
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