Joseph W. Guay

Guay, Joseph W.
COHOES - Joseph W. Guay, 94, of Cohoes, passed away peacefully on August 19, 2025, at his longtime home in Cohoes. A lifelong resident of Cohoes, Joe was born in 1931 on Cataract Street, in the old Harmony Hills housing, to the late Henry and Mary (Lonczak) Guay. As a young child, he faced and overcame polio, a challenge that shaped his strength and quiet determination throughout his life. Joe grew up on Church Street in the Orchard section of Cohoes, surrounded by his sisters, Phyllis Arndt and Mary Ryan, and a large, close-knit extended family of Lonczak relatives. He attended local parochial schools and graduated from Catholic Central High School. As a young man, Joe developed a love for music and learned to play the accordion, performing in a two-man band for several years. He also pursued his interest in photography, running a small photography business before beginning his long career with the New York State Workers' Compensation Board. While working at the Workers' Compensation Board, Joe met Doug Weiss, who would become his closest friend and travel companion for decades. Their friendship was a central part of Joe's life, until Doug's passing in 2022. Joe was deeply devoted to his family. He cared for his parents in their later years, ensuring they could remain in their cherished home in Cohoes. He is survived by his nieces and nephews, Jeffrey Arndt, of Troy, Phyllis Kligman, of Morristown, N.J., Debbie Gentile, of Newington, Conn., and Charles P. Arndt Jr., of Morristown, N.J. He is also survived by his cousin, Sandy Lonczak, of Halfmoon, along with several extended family members and friends, who will remember him with love and gratitude. A private viewing is planned for the immediate family, with burial at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Waterford. For condolences, www.dufresnefuneralhome.com