Obituary for Joseph J. Jurkowski
Joseph J. Jurkowski, 88, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Sunday, May 26, 2013 at Mercy Medical Center. He was born Josef Jurkowski on June 16, 1924 in Chicopee, MA. His father, Jan and his mother Marya, were both from Poland. In 1948 he married Elizabeth Eileen Griffin, and they remained happily married for 64 years. Joe enlisted in the Marine Corps on August 31, 1942, and served the Pacific Theater of Operations from December 3, 1942 to June 19, 1944 and was wounded in the assault and capture of Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands. He was awarded a Purple Heart and was honorably discharged in November, 1945. Joe worked at WMECO for many years and retired in 1986. He lost his son Joe in 2007 to lung cancer, and later was pre-deceased by the love of his life Betty, on February 27, 2012. Joe was an avid trout fisherman, spending many a sunny day fishing as a young man with his brother Frank and then carried on the tradition throughout his life with his children, grandchildren and friends. He also loved birds and nature, and he raced homing pigeons for many years. Joe and Betty had an open door policy, the more the merrier when it came to family vacations at the Cape, where many family and friends would congregate regularly in the summer for many years. Joe was a kind and generous man, and never lost his mischievous nature or sense of humor right up till the end. He will be deeply missed by his three children Jacinta Connor and her husband Bernie of Cape Coral, FL.; Debra Paquette and her husband George of Easthampton; and Kevin Jurkowski and his wife Terri of Ludlow. He was pre-deceased by four siblings; Fabian Jurkowski, Jane Kuczma, Benedict Jurkowski and Stephanie Bagge. He is survived by his sister Katherine Lapa and her daughter Judy, sisters Helen Jurkowski, Dorothy Rexford, and Sr. Dorothea; and his brothers Chester Jurkowski and Frank Jurkowski. He also leaves behind 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Joe was a communicant of Christ the King Parrish in Ludlow. A Liturgy of Christian Burial celebrating his life will be held on Friday, May 31, 2013 at 9:30 am in Christ the King Church, followed by burial in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. Ludlow Funeral Home and Cremation Service has been entrusted with the arrangements. The family has asked that for those wishing to make a donation in Joe’s memory, please do so to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at: St. Jude Tribute Program, PO Box 1000 Dept 142 Memphis TN 38148; Account # 33639838.
The family has asked that for those wishing to make a donation in Joe’s memory, please do so to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at: St. Jude Tribute Program, PO Box 1000 Dept 142 Memphis TN 38148; Account # 33639838.
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The family has asked that for those wishing to make a donation in Joe’s memory, please do so to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at: St. Jude Tribute Program, PO Box 1000 Dept 142 Memphis TN 38148; Account # 33639838.
To plant a tree in memory of Joseph J. Jurkowski, visit the Tribute Store.
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