Joseph S. Bucci Jr.

ERVING- Joseph Samuel Bucci, Jr., 78, was born in Honesdale, PA on December 10, 1946. He died after a short bout of cancer on May 23, 2025 at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, MA. He was able to tell us his wishes to the very end.

Joe grew up in Lake Ariel, pA on his family’s  small dairy farm. Joe attended grade school in Hamlin, PA until the family moved to MA in 1961. He then attended Ralph C. Mahar Regional School in Orange, MA, graduating in 1965.

He joined the Air Force where he met his wife while serving at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, OK, and they had their first child Joseph in 1970. He and Kay traveled to many states and Joanna was born while they were stationed in Germany in 1974. Joe was part of a research and development team for the E3A AWACS plane which is still in use today. He retired from the Air Force after 20 years of service. While in the Air Force, he bcame involved in the Boy Scouts and this grew to be a very big part of his life, helping many young boys serve their communities and become the men they are now. He helped his own son and nephew plus many others become Eagle Scouts.

Joe was very dedicated to his faith and an active deacon where he served for over 28 years until his death. He was a man of God. He loved his family and the people he served through his ministry at the churches he was involved with.

Joe leaves his wife Margaret “Kay”(Cotton) of 57 years. He leaves his son Joseph (Linda) of Jacksonville, FL and daughter Joanna of Erving, MA. He leaves his grandchildren Jacob and Anthony of Jacksonville, FL. His siblings, Susan (Alan) Cafarella of Greenfield, mA, Sharon (Frank) Schutt of West Springfield, MA, and Terry (Anne) Bucci of Erving, MA. He also leaves many nieces and nephews.

After retiring from the military, Joe worked with his brother in law Alan at C&S Electric Motors of Greenfield, then he was custodian at the Erving Elementary School in Erving, MA, and deacon at St. Mary’s Church in Orange, MA for many years. After his second retirement, he devoted his time to his church, Boy Scouts and family.

Calling hours will be at St. Mary’s Church, 19 Congress Street, Orange, MA on Monday, June 9th from 6- 7:30 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Our Lady of Peace, 90 Seventh Street, Turners Falls, MA on Tuesday, June 10th at 11 a.m.

Burial will be private in Erving Center Cemetery, Erving, MA

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Our Lady of Peace, 90 Seventh Street, Turners Falls, MA 01376, or St, Mary’s Church, 19 Congress Street, Orange, MA 01364, or to Special Olympics of Massachusetts, 512 Forest Street, Marlborough, MA 01752.

Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.

WWW.WITTYFUNERALHOME.COM

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