Joseph Maguire

Joseph Maguire, a resident of Smyrna, Delaware, passed away peacefully in his home on May 18th, 2024, at age 84. Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Maryann Charters, sister Madeline (Ray Donahue) and son-in-law Victor Chavez.
Joe was born in County Cavan, Ireland, on September 18th, 1939. He graduated from Cavan Technical School and worked as an electrician in Cavan and a machinist in Dublin, Ireland. He was a true patriot and supporter of a united and free Ireland. Joe worked on the restoration of Kilmainham Gaol in the early 1960s when it was converted to a national monument. He immigrated to the United States in 1964. Joe met the love of his life, Roseann Curran, at an Irish American Association dance in New Rochelle, New York shortly after arriving in the U.S. He was drafted and entered the U.S. Army in December 1964.
Joe and Roseann married on April 24, 1965 and spent a brief period of time living in Hawaii before Joe was deployed to Vietnam. He served in the 69th Armor Division in Vietnam from January through June 1966 and was awarded a Purple Heart Medal for injuries received in combat. Joe was very proud of his service in the Army protecting American freedom and received his honorable discharge in April 1972. He was honored to become a U.S. citizen.
Joe lived in New Rochelle, New York and worked as a machinist at Gries and as an electrician in Sound Shore Hospital until 2004. Upon retirement, Joe and Roseann relocated to Smyrna, Delaware. Joe enjoyed tinkering with cars, woodworking, inventing, and reciting poems and riddles. Before he suffered the effects of his traumatic brain injury, Joe enjoyed traveling around the country with his wife visiting family, golfing and spending time on Cape Cod at family reunions with his many, many in-laws.
In addition to his loving wife, Joe is beloved and survived by his three daughters, Sioban (Carlos Nalda), Aileen (Gregory Meyer) and Joann (Victor Chavez) and eight grandchildren, Caitlin (Francis McInerny), Ciara, Christa, Claire Nalda, Roisin, Eoin, Mairead Meyer, and Tara Chavez.
A viewing will be held on Friday May 24th, 2024 from 6-9 pm in the Faries Funeral Chapel located at 29 South Main St. in Smyrna. Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday May 25, 2024 at 11 am at St. Polycarp Parish, located at 135 Ransom Lane in Smyrna. Burial with military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Joseph to the Gary Sinise Foundation (https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate) or The Alzheimer's Association (https://act.alz.org/site/Donation).