Joseph C Mello

Joseph Carl Mello
September 17, 1932 - October 12, 2025
Gloucester, MA - Joseph C. Mello died peacefully on October 12, 2025.
Joseph was born September 17, 1932, son of the late Manuel C. Mello and Lucy C. Damon.
Joe worked on the Gloucester waterfront for many years, being employed by Elliot Stevedoring as a Longshoreman. As a teenager he fished on various vessels out of Gloucester. During one fishing trip on the Roma III, Joe along with four other crew members, went adrift for four days and three nights before finally being rescued by the coast guard, and towed into Portsmouth Harbor.
In the early 1950's, Joseph was drafted into the United States Army, being first sent to Fort Dix in New Jersey and then deployed to Alaska. Joseph married his teenage sweetheart in June 1953, while on leave from the Army. Their favorite song was 'Too Young' by Nat King Cole.
In the 1960's, along with his wife Donna, Joe became engaged in collecting old bottles they'd find in Dogtown. That piqued their interest in antiques, and it wasn't long before they became antique dealers, traveling around New England, visiting various antique shops, as well as having a mail order business. It became a favorite hobby. Joseph loved nature and animals and shared a special bond with them. In his younger years, he was called 'Nature Boy'.
Joseph is survived by his wife, Donna, daughter Jo-Ann, son Scott. Four grandchildren, Miranda, Shawn, Marie and Jackie and 8 great grandchildren, including Disa who he shared many special memories with. He was predeceased by his parents, brother Manuel A. Mello, sister Lucy A. Mello, half-brother, Walter "Sonny" Manger and half-brother William K. Manger Jr.
There will be a private service at Campbell Funeral Home with burial following, at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Donations can be made in Joseph's memory to the Dementia Society of America, Northeast Animal Shelter and The Essex County Greenbelt Association.
Joseph's wife, daughter and family would like to thank Josie Cary and all of the wonderful staff at Seacoast Nursing and Rehab Center, for their kind, compassionate and dedicated care they provided for Joe. They are deeply grateful to each and every one of you who made such a positive difference in Joe's life. They also want to thank the caring staff at Care Dimensions who provided Joe with such kind and compassionate end of life care.