Joseph Stanley Niedbala Jr.

Joseph Stanley Niedbala, Jr., husband of Suzanne (Cousineau), passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at his home in Cromwell on March 6, 2025. Joe was born on March 28, 1948, in New Britain, CT to the late Joseph Stanley Niedbala, Sr. and the late Stefania "Stella" (Bednarz). Joe grew up in a dynamic community of friends and family in New Britain. He attended Sacred Heart School where he met his best-friend-for-life, John Jablonski, and he went on to Thomas Acquinas High school before matriculating at the University of Hartford and entering the Army Reserve. Joe spent the bulk of his career as a CPA at Aetna. He made a loving home with his wife of nearly 47 years, raising their three children in the close-knit Ronald Drive neighborhood in Cromwell. He assisted with his children's organized sports and always supported their interests and hobbies. Joe lived a very active life, finding joy in taking care of his wooded yard, going on lots of walks, hikes and bike rides, doing repairs, applying his creative problem-solving skills around the house, and getting in a game of basketball or catch with the kids on the cul-de-sac before a cold brew with his neighbor, Bob. Joe remained religious about his back exercises and calisthenics, proud that he hadn't thrown his back out since the 90s, even through ballroom dance classes with his wife. He was the sole inventor of the pizza parka, an unlicensed recycled warming device. He was a parallel inventor of the roof rake. Upon his retirement in 2012, Joe began providing Dziadzi day care to a growing brood of grandchildren, and he took several amazing trips with Sue and close friends. Every year, he looked forward to beach vacations with his children and grandchildren, and he occasionally attended a town council meeting to goad the powers-that-be into submission, usually about land conservation. He was a member of St. John's Parish in Middletown, CT, where he and his wife have been part of the choir for decades. Joe was widely known for his quiet integrity and his good natured humor. Joe led a life filled with family and friends too numerous to name in full here. He is survived and will be dearly missed by his loving wife Sue; daughter Amanda (Greenwell), her husband Robert, and their sons Nolan, Sean, and Connel; son Daniel, his wife Yuletzi, and their sons Samuel and Isaac; son Gregory, his wife Christine (Gura), and their daughters Elna and Malin, all of Wethersfield. He will also be missed by many cousins, especially Dorothy Hemingway, with whom he and his sister shared a special bond; and sisters-, brothers-, and cousins-in-law who made his life all the richer. He always enjoyed large family gatherings with everyone. He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Stella Niedbala, and his sister Joanne, with whom he is now reunited, along with several cousins and friends. Joe's family would like to express their deep gratitude to the team at Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center and to friends and neighbors for their acts of kindness and support and many, many good times over the years. The Funeral Liturgy will be held on Thursday, March 13 at 11:00 am at St. John's Church in Middletown. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in New Britain, CT. Visitation hours will be Wednesday, March 12 from 5:00 pm-7:00 pm at the Cromwell Funeral Home, 506 Main Street, Cromwell. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his memory may be made to the Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center and Cromwell Children's Coalition. For directions or online tributes, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joseph Stanley Niedbala, Jr., please visit our floral store.