Joseph R. Crowley died peacefully and surrounded by his family, at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River on February 11th, his birthday. He was husband of the late Marie C. (Cross) Crowley. Joe was born in Binghamton, New York, in 1936 to the late Joseph M. and Marion F. (Humphrey) Crowley.
He was a graduate of Bryant College, Providence, Rhode Island. His employment included H.P. Hood Milk Company and the family business Center State Milk Company, Springfield, Massachusetts. He owned Crowley’s Marina on the Connecticut River, Holyoke. Subsequently he was employed by Toledo Scale Company and the Mettler Toledo Company until he retired in 2000 when he and Marie moved to their new dream home in Westport, Massachusetts. Marie passed in 2006 after 46 years of marriage.
Joseph was a communicant of St. John The Baptist Church, Westport, Massachusetts. He was a member of the R.O.M.E.O.s. His family and the marina were the major facets of his life; volunteer work with community organizations was also important to him.
Survivors include his daughter, Judith A. Stickels and husband Robert K. Stickels of Windsor, Connecticut; Diane Smith Martowski and husband Joseph T. Martowski, of Ware, Massachusetts; and Donna K. Crowley of northern Maine; sister Mary Crowley Brooks of Soquel, California; three grandchildren, three step-grandchildren; his longtime companion Roberta M. Chaves; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by brothers James J. Crowley and Edward E. Crowley and Marie.
Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial service at St. John the Baptist Church on Thursday, February 17th at 10:00 am. Interment immediately following the service in Beech Grove Cemetery and repast gathering at White’s Restaurant, all in Westport, MA.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Joe’s memory to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.