Joseph Benedict Cocozzella, M.D.
Joseph B. Cocozzella, 82
Worcester, MA- Our beloved Joseph B. Cocozzella, 82, of Worcester died Sunday June 29th, 2025, at The Rose Monahan Hospice House, Worcester.
He leaves his two sons, Joseph M. Cocozzella and his wife Laura, and Michael P. Cocozzella; his grandchildren, Jack Joseph and Harper Helen Cocozzella; his sister-in-law, Carol Ann Cocozzella and niece, Coco. He was predeceased by his daughter, Lisa M. Cocozzella, his wife, Helen Marie (Peter), his brother, Peter Cocozzella, and his parents, Michael and Angelina Cocozzella.
Joe was born in Monacilioni, a farm town in the Molise region of Italy, when the world was at war. His childhood memories included a Canadian soldier who took a liking to Joe and left him a hat, along with a leather bag from which shoes were made during times of scarcity; finding Roman coins buried in the mud of the horse stables, and helping the men and women work the fields during harvest season.
At the age of 10, Joe and his family boarded a ship as immigrants to the United States. (During the crossing, the sea was so turbulent that a piano was moved from its station!) Once settled in Colorado, Joe worked hard assimilating to his new environment. He quickly learned English and excelled in both school and boxing, all while working long hours shining shoes at the barber shop (a Franklin half-dollar for a job well done!).
Joe’s spirit of devotion to his studies and capacity for hard work was recognized by his college advisors, who encouraged his pursuit of medicine at St. Louis University School of Medicine. While there he met a young lab technician from Worcester named Helen Peter, who would become his wife.
Upon completing his residency in Internal Medicine at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester, Joe served the community as a physician for over 45 years at the Winthrop Medical Center. For Joe, medicine was an act of service, rather than a business, although Helen made sure the business kept running. Consistent with his country roots, he was the consummate “country doctor”: A physician grounded in the biological science, who was able to recognize the wounded humanity of his patients, while affirming their moral worth.
Despite his busy clinical practice, Joe and Helen settled down in nearby Holden to raise their family of 3 children (Joe, Mike, and Lisa), 3 dogs, an African grey parrot, some rabbits, and about a billion fish. Later in life he relished being “Grandpa Joe” to both Jack and Harper.
Joe’s intellectual curiosity for all things was a lifelong trait. Whether it was chromosomes or caudates; Einstein or Aesop, nothing escaped his interest. (On more than one occasion he was mistaken for a mathematician.) His belief was that the steady pursuit of a subject deepens one’s character, as well as one’s knowledge.
When the time came for Joe to face his final illness, he did so with courage and unwavering faith. At the end of his life, St. Paul expressed, “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” With the journey completed, there is solace in knowing that Dad is with Jesus, and once again, hugging Lisa and holding Helen’s hand in paradise.
The funeral will be held on Monday July 21, 2025 from HENRY – DIRSA FUNERAL HOME, 33 Ward Street, Worcester with a Mass at 10:30 A.M. in St. George Church, 38 Brattle Street, Worcester. Burial will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery. Calling hours in the funeral home are Sunday July 20, 2025 from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M.