Joseph DeGuilio

1931 - 2020

Joseph DeGuilio

Southbury - Joseph DeGuilio Jr. passed from this life to new life on Wednesday, October 7, 2020. 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 1920's 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, CT 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 80's 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 seventy three 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 and sisters Carolyn, Ann, Mary and Barbara as well as his brothers Gerald, Richard and Charles. He and Rose were long time 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 Southbury, CT 06488 or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org in his memory. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 10 at 10:00 am in Sacred Heart Church, 910 Main Street Southbury, CT. Burial with military honors will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY. Calling hours will be prior to Mass at the Carpino Funeral Home, 750 Main Street S, Southbury, CT beginning at 9am on Saturday.