Salem
Joseph Sebastian Stella, 87, passed away peacefully Saturday, October 11, 2025, following a long illness. He was a renowned and respected organist within the Archdiocese of Boston.
Born in Boston, he was the son of the late Joseph and Anna (Bordieri) Stella. A graduate of East Boston High School, he was a graduate of New England School of Art and later attended Boston Architectural College. Joe taught design at New England School of Art for about twenty years. He later worked at some of Boston’s premier agencies and received many awards for design excellence. Later he partnered with his classmate, Tony Coppola, to form their own design consultancy, working for many prominent business leaders, solving their space planning requirements. Joe was a member of the American Institute of Interior Designers.
Joe’s true vocation was liturgical music, to which he devoted his life. He began his career in music at the age of fifteen, playing organ for services at St. John Church, In East Boston and later as Choir Director at St. Leonard Church in the North End. Over the years he served at many churches in Boston and on the North Shore. Joe found his home at Ste. Anne Parish in Salem where he was Music Director, working with several pastors over the years and introducing special liturgical musical events to the parish. Joe was devoted to the members of the choir, the bell ringers choir, soloists both vocalist and instrumentalist friends. He will be greatly missed by many.
He is survived by his sister, Angela Hatch of Weymouth and his many loving nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers and sister, Charles Stella, Maryann Salamone and Paul Stella.
Relatives and friends are invited to his visiting hours on Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM at Ste. Anne Church, 290 Jefferson Ave., Salem, followed by his Mass of Christian Burial in church at 11: 15 AM. Burial will follow in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a memorial contribution to the Ste Anne Parish Music Ministry, For guestbook and to send a condolence to his family, please visit www.LevesqueFunerals.com .