Born on May 16, 1938, Joe was the eldest of seven children born to Francisco and Angelina Mendes of Mesquitela, Portugal. He later emigrated to the United States in the late 1960s in pursuit of the American Dream.
Joe married in April of 1978, and in January of 1979, welcomed his first daughter, Angelina Mendes; followed by Nancy Mendes in 1980 and Susy (Mendes) Cullen in 1981. Joe is also father to Catarina Mendes (2003). He began his humble beginnings in Yonkers, NY, where he would live for the remainder of his life. He initially pumped gas, then owned his own gas station, and finally co-owned Central Avenue Taxi with business partner and friend, Jerry Smith. Joe worked tirelessly 7 days a week to provide his daughters with all of the opportunities his parents could not afford to give him.
In his retirement, Joe turned the energies he put into his work into gardening and cycling. Joe’s garden boasted over 140 tomato plants, fig and other fruit trees, as well as many fruits, vegetables, and flowers. He also made several good friends cycling, and in his late 70’s, he would bike up to 40 miles a day! Joe was a very proud man and whatever he put his mind to, he achieved.
Unfortunately, in 2016, Joe suffered two strokes in a week and developed dementia. He was under the care of the most wonderful aides any person could ask for, which allowed for him to remain in his home until the morning of his death. Had it not been for the love, compassion, and devotion of the aides who cared for him until his final hours, he would not have had the quality of life and dignity he did in his final years. His aides Iris Diaz, Ana Diaz, Adelayne Nicascio, and Manuela Laranjeiro are truly angels on Earth.
In addition to his daughters, Joe is survived by his brother Tomas Mendes, as well as his brother Manuel Mendes and his wife Raquel. He is also survived by his sisters Rosa (Mendes) Gomes, Ressurreicao (Mendes) Barros, and Benedita (Mendes) Ribeiro, and their husbands, who reside in Portugal. He is predeceased by his sister Conceicao Mendes. Joe was a proud uncle to his many nieces and nephews, but closest with his nieces Alice (Mendes) Beaulieu and Cristina (Mendes) Fialho, their husbands Richard and Nelson and their children; as well as his nephews Luis Felipe Mendes and Paul Mendes who live here in the United States. Lastly, he is survived by his grandchildren, Natalie and Christopher Cullen.
Family and friends are invited to call at Whalen and Ball Funeral Home located at 168 Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10703, on Tuesday, May 28th from 4-8pm. The funeral mass will be on Wednesday, May 29th at 10am at The Church of St. Anthony on 10 Squire Avenue (and the corner of Nepperhan Ave.), Yonkers, NY 10703. The interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery immediately following the mass at 11:15am.
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