Joseph F. Szala, 75, of Venice, FL, formerly of Dartmouth, died April 19, 2010 after a brief illness. He was the husband of Arlene C. (Bryda) Szala. They were married for 51 years.
Born in Dartmouth, the son of the late Joseph F. and Josephine (Sniezek) Szala, he lived in Dartmouth before moving to Florida in 1998.
Mr. Szala was a teacher for the Town of Westport for thirty years. During this time, he served as the manager of the Westport Fair for twenty-five years. He also served in various positions on the District Three Fire Department in Dartmouth for nearly thirty years, including ten years as Fire Chief and eight years as the Clerk and Treasurer.
Mr. Szala enjoyed his greenhouse, flowers, gardening, and being a gentleman farmer.
Survivors include his wife, Arlene; a daughter, Deborah Ann Szala Cicchetti and her husband Paul of Pepperell, MA; sons Robert W. Szala of Dartmouth and James J. Szala of Nokomis, FL; a sister Albina Forys of Port Charlotte, FL; grandsons Vincent Cicchetti and Michael Cicchetti and Christopher R. Szala; many nieces and nephews. Mr. Szala was the brother of the late Alfred Szala, Stephen Szala, Eugene Szala, Louise Cieplik, and Edmonda Szafran.
His Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday May 8, 2010 at 10 AM at St. Julie Billiart Church. Burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery will be private. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.