Joseph M. Azary Jr.

AZARY Joseph M. Azary, Jr., age 69, of Shelton, and formerly of Galveston, Idn., passed away on Saturday July 12, 2008 in the Lord Chamberlain Nursing Home Stratford, after courageously battling the side effects of a stroke since October 2007. Joseph was born in Norwalk July 18, 1939 son of the late Joseph M. Azary, Sr. and Elizabeth Fekete Azary. He is survived by two sons, Joseph M. Azary, III and his wife, Jennifer of Shelton, and Dennis Azary of San Francisco, Calif. He also leaves two grandsons Alex and Evan Azary, of Shelton; a sister, Carol Merrill and her husband, James of Norwalk; a brother, Alan Azary and his wife, Geri, of Tampa, Fla.; a niece, several nephews, a great nephew, and his life-long pal, Ray Cummings and his wife, Carol of Cheshire. Joseph was a Connecticut resident for most of his life, growing up in Norwalk, and later moving to Bridgeport. He retired and moved to Indiana in 2004, where he enjoyed a simple life and became a proud and active member of the Upper Deer Creek Church in Galveston, Ind. He was a retired welder and construction foreman for most of his career including working at Leak & Nelson. He was a member of the National Shop men Union. One of Joe's passions included drag racing, earning him the title of "Coolest Grandfather". He was a member of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and participated in many races in Englishtown, NJ driving his own dragster 'Lazy Joe". He enjoyed working on cars, including piecing together his most recent favorite a 1941 Ford. When he wasn't fixing cars, he enjoyed riding his Harley Davison motorcycle, watching football (including the Indianapolis Colts), and traveling. He proudly traveled by car to every state in the continental USA, but also extended travels to Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, China, and several Caribbean Islands. Joe's other love was conversation, and laughter. Although these were silenced by his recent stroke, his family and friends will fondly remember him for both. Friends are invited to a memorial mass at St. Margaret Mary Church 380 Long Hill Ave. Shelton on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be on Thursday at 2 p.m. in St. Mary's Cemetery Norwalk. At the request of Joe's family memorial donations may be made to St. Margaret Mary Church 380 Long Hill Ave. Shelton, CT 06484, or to the Upper Deer Creek Church 5091 E 1400 S Galveston, IN 46932. The Riverview Funeral Home 390 River Road, Shelton, has been entrusted with his arrangements. Leave condolences at www.riverviewfh.com.