Joseph Harvey Morais

On Monday, June 29, 2020, the Morais family lost their beloved Pop-Pop, Joseph H. Morais, as the result of having pulmonary fibrosis lung disease, at the age of 83. Although COVID19 prevented anyone from visiting him while he was in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit of Mease Adventa Hospital in Dunedin, Florida, his wife and children were thankful for today’s technology where they spoke to him on FaceTime several times throughout the day the last three weeks of his life. He was comforted knowing his wife was not alone during this very difficult time as her son and eldest daughter were by her side every minute and family and friends were praying his recovery.

Joe was born in the Bronx, New York, on February 13, 1937 to father, Harvey Morais and mother, Pasquelina Corio Morais. The eldest of four children, Joe is survived by brother, John Morais, and sister, Jeanette Morais. Joe and Helen had three children, Helen (“Holly”) Morais Moore, Lynda Morais Moore and Joseph Morais, Jr. Joe was the proud grandfather or “Pop Pop” (as the grandchildren and great-grandchildren affectionately called him) of six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He took great pride in his family and enjoyed spending the summer months and Holiday Season with his family in New York every year.

If you ask anyone who met Joe what they thought of him, you would only hear words of praise and love. He was a real life “teddy bear” not just to his children and grandchildren, but to everyone he met! He was an eternal optimist, loved music and whistling, singing and dancing. He loved to talk about nature, history - anything really. He enjoyed meeting new people and would talk with anyone, anywhere! His wife called him The Mayor, because everywhere he went, he knew someone.

Joe was enrolled in Samuel Gompers Vocational and Technical High School, excelling in his auto mechanic studies. Joes’ physical talents weren’t confined to the world of auto mechanics- he was truly a master of everything from plumbing and welding, carpentry and masonry, electronics...pretty much, as they say, Master of Everything. A true renaissance man. After Joe graduated from trade school in 1956, he joined the US Army. Joe received specialized training in helicopter repair. In 1958, he met and fell in love with Helen Hills, and they married in 1959 and enjoyed 61 years of marriage this past March. As newlyweds, they lived in an apartment on Broadway Terrace, Manhattan, in New Yok city. They had their first daughter, Helen (“Holly”) Morais Moore in 1959, while Joe worked at Railway Express until 1960. Their second daughter, Lynda Morais Moore, was born two years later.

By the year 1962 Joe and Helen left Manhattan and moved upstate to a New York city bedroom community in Orange County, Monroe, New York. Joe and Helen's third child, Joseph Jr., was born. Joe worked as a truck mechanic for Getty Oil and then Mobil Oil in Newburgh, New York. Where he received accolades and Safe Driver Awards annually.

Eventually they built a larger home in Washingtonville, New York, where they raised their three children. In the 1970’s, they were foster parents to newborns, infants and toddlers until the children were placed with adopted parents. Joe cared for these babies as if they were his own. The love those children received from Joe and Helen was so bountiful that there’s little doubt they had anything less than a loving beginning to their lives. Joe, as an Uncle was the best, he always played with his nieces and nephews, from giving rides on his tractor to fishing trips- just the guys, he was cherished and will always be a favorite uncle to many of his nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. He truly was a beacon of God’s love here on earth. If Joe knew you, he loved you, it’s as simple as that.

In the year 1972 Joe and Helen went on a Marriage Encounter weekend that changed their lives permanently! They became a team couple, which meant that they would be giving the talks and sharing their own lives with complete strangers. These years were so rewarding for Joe and Helen, not just as a married couple reacquainting themselves with one another, but because their faith in God was strengthened and prolific. The Catholic faith was a very important part of Joe’s life. He loved Jesus and was so much like Him in his unwavering belief in the goodness of others. Joe had a larger than life presence, a deep voice and when he would sing the songs or hymns at Mass, you could hear his baritone voice singing loud and clear, to the enjoyment of anyone seated near him.

Every summer Joe would pack up his van with his wife and three children and head down to Long Island, where they would stay with family for a few weeks. Joe loved everything about Long Island, from deep sea fishing in the Atlantic, crabbing off docks, to clamming in the abundant sand bars off the Fire Island coastline, he couldn’t get enough. Finally, he made the decision to move to Long Island to be both near the Ocean he loved, and to be near his wife’s family who resided there.

Joe and Helen bought a lovely brick ranch home in Center Moriches, where both his daughters would eventually settle as well. His son, Joseph Jr. lived a few towns away in Hampton Bays. As a master of all skills, Joe continued working establishing a home repair/general contracting business. He and his son, Joseph, Jr., worked together for many years. They had a very special father-son relationship that gave Joe so much pleasure, especially over the last 10 years. They spoke to one another several times a day, just to chat and shoot the breeze, they were buddies. They shared a strong bond.

Joe owned several boats while he lived on Long Island, his Grady White, where he took friends and relatives fishing and swimming in the great South Bay. Soon enough he traded in his Grady for a Carver (the A’More) that had a cabin and kitchen. Joe and Helen would take their boat over to Fire Island for weeks at a time where grandchildren would visit and sleep over. Joe just loved having family around, especially the little ones! He loved fishing with his eldest grandson, and just loved being in the open water. They enjoyed such special times those years at Watch Hill. Making new friends, hosting family that would come by ferry to visit, everyday was a party, and he deserved it!

By 2004, Joe and Helen decided to move to Hudson, Florida, where they had friends from upstate New York who had moved there and they reconnected with them. They enjoyed their time in Hudson, but something didn't feel right living in attached homes….so they found a little house in Palm Harbor in the same community where Joe’s brother and other couples from upstate New York had homes. They enjoyed more social activities than they ever imagined! Joe captained the community pontoon boat and golfed regularly with his brother and friends. He enjoyed working in his garage, he loved to putter! Joe and Helen enjoyed parties and dances, outings and special events. But nothing put a twinkle in his eyes like his grandchildren and great grandchildren did! The love he shared with friends, family and even complete strangers is the legacy Joe has left for his family - this is a priceless gift. To remember and to honor Joe, we have to remember to forgive, to love and to whistle our days away in happy bliss, knowing we are loved and treasured, not only by our family, but by God.

Family members will be scattering Joe’s ashes in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Long Island at a Celebration of Life ceremony to be held later this summer at one or two of his favorite beaches, at an intimate ceremony. He will be missed and treasured as the most amazing Pop Pop who ever lived!