Joel A. Morris

Joel A. Morris
Greece: January 8, 1941- October 26, 2025. Joel is predeceased by his parents, Jane & George Morris; in-laws, Florence & Andrew Donofrio. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Mary Lou Morris; children, Alan Morris, Kirk (Wendy) Morris, Janine (Lee) Cropo & Keith (Shirli) Morris; grandchildren, Vincent (Olivia) Cropo, Madison (William) Harris, Lauren Morris, Collin Morris, Conner Morris, Joel Morris & Annaleesa Morris; great-granddaughter, Ava Harris; several nieces & nephews.
Joel dedicated his life to providing for his family and serving his country in the New York Army National Guard.
Joel's life story will be shared during visitation, 2:00-6:00 pm on Sunday, November 2nd at the funeral home, 1411 Vintage Lane. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30 am on Monday, November 3rd at Our Mother of Sorrows Church, 5000 Mt Read Blvd. Interment in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made in Joel's name to Hildebrandt Hospice,
Remembering Joel Alan Morris
Joel Alan Morris was born on January 8, 1941, in Rochester, New York - the same birthday as Elvis Presley and a year of great change in the world. In 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor would soon draw the United States into World War II, Mount Rushmore was completed, and General Mills introduced a new cereal called Cheerioats, later renamed Cheerios. Joel was born to George and Jane (Oswald) Morris, who built a loving home filled with warmth and hard work. His father worked at Bausch & Lomb making eyeglass lenses, while his mother sewed clothes for the family and taught young Joel how to ballroom dance - a skill that would come in handy throughout his life. The family settled at 327 Ridgedale Circle, a home built in 1942 that became the foundation of Joel's childhood.
Growing up, Joel attended school in the City of Rochester School District while living in Greece, New York. He went on to study at the all-boys Old Edison Tech High School, where he specialized in Lithography and earned an award for perfect attendance, never missing a single day of class. His strong work ethic showed early - at just fourteen, he started working at a bakery, a job that marked the beginning of a lifetime devoted to hard work and responsibility.
After high school, Joel began his career at Case-Hoyt in Chili, New York, where he would spend the next forty-one years as a Lithographer. He loved his work and took tremendous pride in it, eventually rising to the position of First Pressman. His coworkers respected, admired, and, at times, feared him - affectionately calling him "The Barn Boss."
Known for his high standards and unwavering dedication, Joel turned down a management position because he valued his camaraderie with his fellow pressmen more than a bigger paycheck. He worked ever-changing shifts, weekends, and long overtime hours to provide for his family, embodying the very definition of loyalty and sacrifice. Case-Hoyt even sent him to Nashville, Tennessee, to inspect a new press for the company, a testament to his skill and expertise. After retiring from Case-Hoyt, Joel continued to serve his community, working for the Town of Greece Animal Control Services and later as the in-house mail delivery man for all of the departments in the town.
In addition to his career, Joel served proudly in the New York Army National Guard, earning medals for Service in Aid of Civil Authorities and as an Expert with the M-1 rifle. He was also nominated to the National Rifle Association's Legion of Honor, a member of the American Legion, and an active parishioner at Our Mother of Sorrows Church.
On September 16, 1967, Joel married the love of his life, Mary Lou Donofrio. The two met on a double date arranged by friends Andy and Ann Marie Hagler, who were convinced they'd be perfect for each other - and they were right. Their first date was at a very fancy restaurant in Canandaigua, and from that night on, their love only grew. They honeymooned in the Poconos, danced to their wedding song "More," and shared fifty-eight years of devotion, laughter, and partnership. When Mary Lou was expecting their first child, Joel insisted she leave her job so she could stay home with their growing family. As his children grew, all were sent to private schools for their education and only after their youngest was in school full-time, Mary Lou went back into the workforce. He took on longer shifts and extra work without hesitation, determined to provide and protect. Together, they raised four children - Alan, Kirk, Janine, and Keith - each of whom inherited pieces of their father's humor, generosity, and drive.
Family meant everything to Joel. He and Mary Lou filled their lives with love, laughter, and adventure - summers at their Darien Lake camper in the 1970s and '80s, weekends at their Honeoye Lake cottage in the '90s, and later, peaceful getaways at Sugar Creek Glen. They took family vacations to Disney World, Jamaica, Las Vegas, the Jersey Shore, and Myrtle Beach, and cherished simple nights at the drive-in or around the family bar Joel built in their basement. He loved being surrounded by his family and friends, and his home was always filled with music, conversation, and laughter.
Babysitting the kids wasn't one of Joel's strongest skills. He realized this himself when he woke up one time with his hair not-so-neatly trimmed, covered in cereal and with nail polish on his fingers that he didn't have time to remove before going to work that day.
Joel was a man of great humor and warmth, a consummate "ballbuster" who loved to joke, tease, and make people laugh. He had a larger-than-life personality and a heart just as big. He was also an incredible cook, famous for his spare ribs made every New Year's Eve and on Mary Lou's birthday. His apple pies were unmatched, and his deep-frying skills legendary - from donut balls to chicken wings, cauliflower, and mushrooms. Ingenious and resourceful, he even built his own rotisserie using the inside tub of a clothes dryer. His homemade Rochester-style meat hot sauce became the stuff of legend and he created the recipe that would become the original sauce used by Tony's Birdland. He often made homemade garbage plates for his kids and their friends, and though most of his culinary creations were a hit, there was one memorable flop - the time he accidentally used salt instead of sugar when making homemade Kahlua.
Joel's creativity extended beyond the kitchen. He finished his basement with a full-length bar perfect for family parties, built a horseshoe pit in the backyard, and filled his home with pinball and slide-puck bowling machines.
In his younger years, he owned a motorcycle and a red Corvette, and no matter the season, his "shorts" were always a pair of cut-off jeans. He played baseball for the Case-Hoyt team, bowled in men's and couples' leagues at Dewey Gardens and Terrace Lanes, and loved his CB radio days - known on the airwaves as "Winter Hawk," while Mary Lou was "Eskimo Lady."
Joel loved country music, especially Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Alabama, Shania Twain, and the Oak Ridge Boys, and he and Mary Lou enjoyed attending concerts together. He was a great dancer, a gift from his mother's early lessons, and he could light up any dance floor. His favorite television shows included The Lone Ranger, and he rarely missed a NASCAR race. He loved spending time with his best friends, Fred Bloss and George Taylor, and could often be heard saying one of his favorite phrases: "I'll buy, you fly."
His favorite snacks were simple but comforting - Krusteaz cinnamon swirl crumb cake, molasses and oatmeal raisin cookies, glazed crescent rolls, peanut butter pretzels, oyster crackers with butter, and ramen noodles fried in a pan. His favorite meal of all, however, was a Nick Tahou's garbage plate - two cheeseburgers, beans and home fries, heavy everything, extra onions.
Joel lived by a strong moral compass and an unshakeable sense of responsibility. He believed deeply in doing the right thing, no matter what it cost. When a co-worker fell on hard times, Joel gave him his truck. When he was out of work for seven weeks with four kids at home, he refused to take unemployment. He volunteered to cook at his children's soccer tournaments and helped serve hot lunches at church. He never sought revenge or recognition, even when wronged - whether it was a restaurant that stole his chicken wing sauce recipe or a business deal that fell apart when he nearly bought a restaurant. His strength was quiet, his generosity effortless, and his integrity absolute.
Through his actions, Joel taught his children life's greatest lessons - to work hard, be loyal, stay devoted to family, and always do the right thing. His example shaped their lives and continues to guide them today. He truly lived by the values of devotion, loyalty, hard work, and selflessness.
In his later years, Joel faced many physical and health challenges, but just as he had throughout his life, he faced them with quiet strength and no complaints. Even then, his concern was always for Mary Lou, the love of his life. On October 26, 2025, Joel passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family - the people he loved most and lived his life for.
He will forever be remembered as a devoted husband, loving father, loyal friend, and hard worker. His laughter, his loyalty, and his love will live on in the countless stories, smiles, and traditions he left behind. To those who knew him best, five words capture who he was at his core: Devoted. Provider. Loyal. Selfless. Hard Worker.
Public Viewing:
Sunday, November 2, 2025
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Bartolomeo & Perotto Funeral Home, Inc.
1411 Vintage Lane
Rochester, NY 14626
Mass:
Monday, November 3, 2025
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Our Mother of Sorrows
5000 Mt. Read Blvd.
Rochester, NY 14612