SALEM — Mr. Joseph R. Turcotte, 86, of Salem, beloved husband of the late Ruth Marie (Furey) Turcotte, died peacefully Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, surrounded by his family.
Born in Salem, he was the son of the late Telesphore and Bertha (Dupuis) Turcotte. He was raised and educated in Salem and attended the former St. James School.
An honorably discharged veteran he served his country as a member of the United States Army during the Korean War. He was very proud of his military service and honored to have defended his beloved country.
Mr. Turcotte had been employed as the general foreman of the City of Salem Water Department for 37 years until the time of his retirement in 1991.
A truly prideful and proud gentleman, Joseph was dedicated and devoted to his family. He had a colorful, vibrant and outgoing personality that endeared him to many. If you met Joe once you never forgot him. He was quick with a smile and joke and loved to make others laugh.
Family was paramount in his life and he showed his fondness for those he loved liberally. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren and through his actions and words taught his family to always stick together through thick and thin and forever be proud of who they are and of whom and where they come from.
He loved animals, traveling, dining out, games of chance, sun worshiping, spending time at the lakes of New Hampshire and traveling to Florida. He could often be found in the stands exuberantly cheering on his children and grandchildren in their endeavors as he wore his heart on his sleeve and showered those he loved with affection. His legacy of pride, love and humor will live on through the generations.
Joe is survived by his children, Joseph R. Turcotte Jr. and his wife Linda of Peabody, John Turcotte of Salem, Deborah Phelan and her husband Brian of Salem, Ellen Hanson and her husband Scott of Salem, Sharon Hickman and her husband John of Newburyport, Ruth Grube and her husband Dennis of Peabody, James Turcotte and his wife Christine of Beverly and Thomas Turcotte and his wife Catherine of Salem, his grandchildren, Lindsay Willard and her husband Ben, Danny and Corey Phelan, Christopher Hanson and his wife Amber, Emily and Gary Hanson, Taylor, Sean, Nathan and Anna Hickman, Alexandra, A.J. and Zachary Grube, Jamie Martin and her husband Sean, and Ruth, Sara and Joseph Turcotte, his five great-grandchildren, Christopher, Jamison, Delilah, Maggie and Ava, his sister Rita O’Day of Salem, his brother, John “Brud” Turcotte and his wife Darcie of Salem and many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Bertha Jalbert and Henry and Robert Turcotte.
Service information: His funeral will be held from The O’DONNELL Funeral Home, 46 Washington Sq., (At Salem Common) Salem, Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 9:15 a.m. followed by his funeral Mass in the Immaculate Conception Church, Hawthorne Blvd., Salem at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends invited. Burial in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. Visiting hours Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 4-8 p.m. Donations in Joe’s memory may be made to the New England Center and Home for Veterans, P.O. Box 845257, Boston, MA 02284. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit Odonnellfuneralservice.com.