Joseph A. Benginia

It is with great sadness we announce the death of Joseph A. Benginia, 64, of Elmhurst Twp. Joe died peacefully Tuesday surrounded by his devoted and loving family. He and his loving and devoted wife Caroline celebrated 41 wonderful years of marriage on May 3, 2021, which was also his 64th birthday.

Born and raised in Scranton before moving to Elmhurst 29 years ago, Joe was the middle child of the late Salvatore "Sammy" and Marie Sacchetti Benginia. He was a 1979 graduate of Scranton Technical High School and Lackawanna County Vocational Technical School. There he studied appliance repair and would go on to open a small appliance repair service. Joe's real passion came to the forefront when he started his own plumbing business, Joe Benginia Plumbing and Heating Inc., which he continued to run until a debilitating neck injury forced him to retire.

Joe was not one to call it quits. He was often known to share his vast knowledge and willingness to help family as well as friends by doing "fix it over the phone" phone calls. Joe was a past member of both Valley Lodge #499 of the Free and Accepted Masons and Irem Temple Shrine. He also loved playing bocce and as a 30-plus year member of the Pittston Old Timers Bocce League, he could be found on a warm summer Tuesday night playing at the court of his dear friend Stephen Evers and "the guys." This is where he began to impart the love and skill of the game to his beloved grandson Luciano who was the light of his life and his "Goomba." He was always so proud of Luciano and loved to watch him participate in all of his sports, especially the Dunmore Bucks football.

Joe was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan who would often be heard joking and saying, "There are only two good football teams in the NFL, the Steelers and any team that beat the Cowboys," who were his wife Caroline's favorite team. On any given Sunday during football season he could be found in his favorite recliner with Luciano and Caroline watching the Steelers play. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul's Parish, Penn Avenue, Scranton.

Joe is survived by his wife, the former Caroline Floyd; beloved daughter, Natalie Benginia; loving grandson, Luciano Calderone, his "Goomba"; sister, Donna of Elmhurst Twp.; brother, Louis and wife, Lois of Roaring Brook Twp.; brothers-in-law, Paul Conlon and wife, Diana of Paul's Valley, Okla., and Louis Tempesta of Blakely; sisters-in-law, Lillian Judge, Scranton and Sharon Judge, Hackettestown, N.J.; several nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by father and mother-in-law, John "Jack" and Mary Floyd; sister-in-law, Ann Tempesta and Mary Jane Gallagher; brothers-in-law, Bernard, George, Doug and Jerry Judge, Joe Conlon and Jerry "Gal" Gallagher.

Joe was always a generous and giving person. He was an organ donor and donated his corneas for transplant.

Friends and family are invited to attend the funeral services Tuesday, Oct. 5 from McGoff-Hughes Funeral Home, 1401 Capouse Ave., Scranton, with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Paul's Parish, 1510 Penn Ave., by Monsignor Neal VanLoon at 10 a.m. Calling hours will be Sunday, 5 to 7 p.m., and Monday, 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.