Joseph A.-Dougherty, Jr.-Obituary

Photo courtesy of Gardner Funeral Home, Runnemede

Joseph A. Dougherty, Jr.

1938 - 2019 (Age 80)

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" A word in your ear, from Father to Son, hear the words that I say"... (Brian May). Words to a song that tell you what life should be about, and like a good parent, you did this for your three children. Then I came along in your daughter's life. You accepted me like one of your own. You did this with all, Strangers. Strangers that then become friends. Friends. Friends that then become family. Family. Family that then become your world. Your strength, your smile, your greeting, your humor,...

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the entire family. Stefenie & I are glad to have met Pops. We havent known the family for that long but we felt like family. We will always remember his first Yankees game and the family allowing us to cherish that moment with them. Pops was a great man and he will he missed. Go YANKEES!!

Joe was my best dad. He 'adopted' me after we spent a few times at WXTU radio station events. It was like being adopted as a young child; I don't remember the early years all that well. It just seems like he was always there, supporting me, loving me. The Dougherty family is amazing in its generosity. They could easily have said, "who the heck is that, and why should we welcome her into our family?" But they opened their hearts to me and became my family too. I am so blessed to have known Joe...

Our deepest sympathy for the entire family. Joe was good man & will be sadly missed. RIP Pretzel Joe. Always a smile & kindness shared by you to everyone who crossed your path. God Bless You. Love & Prayers, Joe Max & Peggy Maxwell

I loved my dad ,so very much . I will miss him so much . Every time I called him , he always said I Love You , baby m I always told him I loved him.I will miss when I visited him at his house he was always happy to see me n loved me coming to visit.He was very up beat n great , positive attitude even when he wasent feeling well n very sick.Everyone that met my dad loved him,he was a great guy . My dad was a great husband , he loved my mom so much n she genuinely loved him.They are a great...

My dad, my hero. Dad thank you for all the wonderful years you have given me. You never judged my chooses I made, good or bad. I am so blessed with having you as my dad and teaching me the meaning of what family is. Family isnt how much you have or how much you done. Its unconditional love. Your heart was so big. Your personality was so amazing. Your smile was so heart felt. You always put us first. Most of all you thought me what love really meant. Your proof is the love you had for mommy...

Joe was a great man. He will truly be missed

Farewell and God Bless to the finest man I've had the extreme honor and priviledge to call " My Dad"
You've afforded me so much more than I could have ever imagined or hoped for as your son! You taught me the meaning of hard work and the importance of always being a man of your word! The importance of loving and supporting family through thick & thin.....You've been such an inspiration of strength, a mentor, a friend and my father but most of all you'll always be my "Hero" I will forever...

Obituary

Joseph A.'s Obituary

Joseph A. "Pretzel Joe" Dougherty, Jr. died peacefully in Virtua Hospital on July 4th in Marlton, NJ at the age of 80.

Joe is survived by his beautiful bride of 63 years, Shirley Dougherty (nee Porter), his children Debra Dougherty (Jim), Denise Canale (William), Joseph Dougherty (Brian) and his “adopted” daughter Gina Preston, his grandchildren Joey, Jimmy, Shannon, James, Kristopher, William (Mallory), Kelly (Nick) and his 6 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Margaret Dougherty, siblings Theresa, Charles, Marie, James.

Joe was born on September 13th, 1938 in Barrington, NJ which he remained in for most of his life. Joe is most well-known for his love of his family, the New York Yankees and Reba McEntire. In his earlier years, he coached the Barrington Girls Softball team, played for the Garden State Men’s Fast Pitch softball league until he was 63 years old and organized a yearly fundraiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Association. He was frequently seen at all local WXTU events with bags of pretzels in hand which is how he was branded “Pretzel Joe”. But above all else, Joe placed his family on the highest of pedestals. Joe will be remembered as a passionate family man, wonderful friend and an example of kindness and generosity to all he met. He tackled every obstacle he faced with a positive attitude and a smile on his face, always grateful for the life and family he helped create.

There will be a viewing from 6:30pm to 8:30pm Wednesday evening and 9am to 10am Thursday morning at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE. Funeral Mass 11am Saint Rose of Lima Church, 300 E. Kings Hwy., Haddon Heights, NJ 08035. Interment private at the request of the family. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Joseph's life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made payable to Deborah Heart and Lung Center, 200 Trenton Rd., Browns Mills, NJ 08015.

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