Joseph Soares Jr., age 80, died Friday, April 3, 2015, after a long illness in the caring and loving hands of the staff at Our Lady’s Haven. He was the husband of Alice (Silva) Soares with whom he would have celebrated 50 years of marriage on April 28th.
Joe was born and raised in New Bedford, the only child of Joseph Soares Sr. and Emily (Ponte) Soares, and has lived in Acushnet for the past 44 years, where he was a communicant of St. Francis Xavier Church.
Joe graduated from New Bedford High School in 1951 and attended Kinyon-Campbell Business School, Bridgewater State, and UMass. He was in the United States Marine Corp serving in Korea and was a recipient of the National Defense and Korean Service Medals and the United Nations 50 Year Commemorative Service Medal. A member of the New Bedford Musicians Union, Local 214, he was well-known in the area and throughout the country, playing trombone with various local bands such as the Rhythm Kings, the Meadowlarks, Eddy Phillips Big Band, Blues Alley, the Tanous Brothers and the Jo-Lee Jazz Band with his daughter Lisa. He worked for several years as a Book Mobile Driver for the City of New Bedford and was Vice President at the Long Plain Museum in Acushnet for several years.
In addition to his wife he leaves 4 daughters: Linda Grenier and her husband Wayne of New Bedford, Sheree Weichrauch and her husband Michael of Foxborough, Sheryl Piazza and her husband Gary of Lakeville and Lisa Soares of Acushnet; his pride and joy, grandchildren: Garrett Joseph Piazza, Alexis Piazza, Michelle and Keith Grenier; and several nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held from 8 to 9:30 am on Tues., April 7, 2015 in the ROCK FUNERAL HOME, 1285 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford, MA with a Mass at 10:00 am in St. Francis Xavier Church, 125 Main St, Acushnet followed by burial in Acushnet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to American Parkinson Disease Assoc. MA Chapter, 72 E. Concord St, C3, Boston, MA 02118.
Visit www.rock-funeralhome.com
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