Joseph J. Cooke

1926 - 2020

Joseph J. Cooke, 93, of East Windsor and formerly of Windsor, beloved husband for 69 years of Louise (Rundquist) Cooke, passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, in East Windsor. Born in Paterson, NJ on March 6, 1926, son of the late Joseph H. and Margaret (Matthews) Cooke, he was raised in Boonton, NJ and was a graduate of Boonton High School, Class of 1944. After high school, Joseph was drafted to serve in the US Army during World War II. He fought in the European Theater and was the chaplain's assistant until his honorable discharge in 1946. Joseph returned to New Jersey and through the GI Bill, he enrolled at Seton Hall University where he studied accounting and graduated with the Class of 1950. After graduation, Joseph took a position with Chase Bank in New York City, NY before working in the accounting office with Revere Copper and Brass in Brooklyn, NY. The company transferred Joseph and his family to Clinton, IL where he worked for 12 years before returning to the East Coast and settling in Windsor. Joseph served as the comptroller for Veeder-Root in Hartford for 19 years until retiring in 1988. After his retirement he worked as the managing editor for the Catholic Transcript and later worked in the accounting office for the Bureau of Rehabilitative Services for the Blind. A devout Catholic throughout his life, Joseph became a permanent Deacon with the Archdiocese of Hartford in 1976. Joseph served as the Deacon at St. Gabriel Church in Windsor for 26 years until his retirement at the age of 75. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Council #3181 in Windsor and he was also a member of the Windsor Kiwanis where he also had served as president. While living in Illinois, Joseph started singing with Barber Shop Quartets (SPEBSQSA) and after moving to Connecticut, he joined the Hartford Chapter and later the Silk City Chorus in Manchester where he enjoyed performing and competing with the group throughout the United States. During his retirement, Joseph volunteered as an instructor for the AARP 55 Alive Driver's Training Course and at FoodShare with his wife Louise. Besides his loving wife, he leaves seven daughters, Judy Quimby (Steven) of Paradise Valley, AZ, Anne Grunbaum (David) of Saugerties, NY, Barbara Girouard (David) of Windsor, Mary Jo Melloni (James) of Tewksbury, MA, Eileen White (Steven) of Oriental, NC, Katherine Cooke Pelletier (Jerry) of Boston, MA, and Cecilia Harman (Gregory) of East Windsor; a brother, Paul F. Cooke (Peggy) of Fairfax, VA; two sisters-in-law, Bonnie Cooke of Virginia, and Karen Swick (Richard) of Florida; 17 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by five siblings, his twin, John Cooke, Thomas Cooke and Margaret Tenny, and infant twins, Edwin and Claire; and a grandson, Brian C. Girouard. His family will receive friends on Monday, February 10, 4-7 p.m., at the Carmon Windsor Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Ave., Windsor. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated on Tuesday, February 11, 10 a.m., at St. Damien of Molokai Parish – St. Gabriel Church, 379 Broad St., Windsor. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Windsor Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Windsor. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, CT Chapter, 200 Executive Blvd, Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489 or to the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St, I-91 Tech Ctr., Rocky Hill, CT 06067. For online condolences please visit, www.carmonfuneralhome.com.