On Sunday, January 26, 2025. Beloved husband of Paula Marie (Wassel); loving father of Bryan Joseph (Emily) and Lisa Marie (Cody Shimek); loving Papa to Anna Marie and Alexander Joseph Poerio and Nicholas Ronald and Truman Joseph Shimek. Loving uncle to Wayne (Grace), Pammy (Robert Pieretti) and Grand Uncle to Mario Poerio, Paige Pieretti Berndt (Josh) and Marco Pieretti; His grand niece Lina is lovingly named after his mother, Micheline.

A lifelong Pittsburgher, Joe was born in the Hill District but grew up in Beechview and attended South Hills Catholic High School (1962). He attended Point Park College and completed his undergraduate studies at Youngstown State University and his Masters Degree at the University of Pittsburgh. He had a 37+ year career with the Pittsburgh Public Schools, starting as an accounting and typing teacher at Langley, then held several administration and director roles. In his 20-year retirement, he was very active at the Pittsburgh Associate of School Retirees, holding various positions and most recently serving as President for the past 3 years.

Joe was a dedicated husband to Paula for 56+ years, always prioritizing his wife’s needs over his own. He “just knew” when they first met at a bar in 1968, but dated for 2 years before marrying. After retiring they were able to enjoy many travel adventures overseas and at sea on several cruises. They also enjoyed visiting their children in Nashville and Minneapolis.

Joe’s selflessness also extended to his children, always willing to drive them to activities, even if play practice didn’t end until midnight or the advertising internship was downtown. He also had little tolerance for missing curfews, talking back, lying, or not doing a chore to the best of our abilities. Joe never showed how hard it was to pay for college or how worried he might have been when they moved away to pursue careers. He was the ideal playmate Papa to his grandchildren, pretending to play post office for hours, teaching them to count coins and burying them in the sand on vacation over and over again. They would squeal his name and run to him when they spotted him at the airport and couldn’t wait to talk long walks with him in the hills in Pittsburgh. His guidance for patience, working hard, putting others first, loving your family, and providing stability will live on in each of them.

After tirelessly caring for his late mother at Marian Manor in Greentree, Joe became a dedicated volunteer and Eucharistic Minister there and at Kane for the past 13 years. He was also a candlelight hospice volunteer and a giving member of every community he joined. In retirement he also continued to pursue his love for landscaping, gardening and woodworking – and of course, finding the best deal at Costco.

Joe had a mischievous sense of humor and always had a joke on the tip of his tongue, making him beloved to everyone he encountered. He remained young at heart his whole life and although he died at 80, it was a shock to anyone he knew because he was so spry and fit, walking 2-3 miles daily in the hills of Carnegie. He never wanted to seem or be “old”, and now, he won’t have to be.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the SZAFRANSKI-EBERLEIN FUNERAL HOME, INC., where family and friends will be received on Thursday, January 30, 2025, from 3-7pm at 101 Third St., Carnegie. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Raphael the Archangel Parish, Ss. Simon and Jude Church on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 10:30am.

**EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH**

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Joe's name to:

Sisters of the Holy Spirit
5246 Clarwin Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15229

- or -

Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank
1 N. Linden St.
Duquesne, PA 15110
https://give.pittsburghfoodbank.org/for/donategpcfb

www.szafranski-eberleinfuneralhome.com (412)276-1107