***PLEASE NOTE CHANGE BELOW IN DATE OF MASS/BURIAL DUE TO SNOW***

Joseph Francis Veneziale, Sr., age 77 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully on Sunday, January 24, 2021 at Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, NJ.

Born at 96 Anderson Street in Raritan Borough, NJ on August 25, 1943, he was the son of the late Francis and Eleanor Sternadori Veneziale.

He was raised in Raritan Borough and lived his entire life there prior to moving to Raritan Township in 1983.

Graduating St. Joseph’s Grammar School in 1957 and Somerville High School in 1961, Joe would join the United States Air Force and serve a total of eight years, being honorably discharged in 1969 as a Staff Sergeant.

Though he was in the service at the time, on April 28, 1962, Joe would do what some would say was the smartest thing he would ever do: he married the love of his life, Barbara Rita “Cookie” Wisniewski, at Christ the King Church, Manville, NJ.

The young couple would start out living wherever Joe was stationed, returning after his discharge to Joe’s hometown where family was important to them both, and they found a community where they could make a difference for the better.

The young couple would soon be joined by the ‘Veneziale Boys’- Joey, Frank and Tony-who kept their mother and father on their toes. Growing up in a close-knit community was important to Joe, as he taught his boys traditions and values that would carry them through life.

Always thinking of others, in 1970 Joe would join the Relief Hose Company No. 2 in Raritan where he would quickly rise the ranks to become Chief Driver. He trained countless firefighters over the years on how to safely drive the large engines and trucks to ensure the community was well served. He proudly held this role until he moved.

Joe was a master truck driver, and over the years worked as a driver for American Hospital Supply, Edison, NJ and Aeropres Corp., Hillsborough, NJ. He was especially proud to have served Aeropres for over twenty years as a hazmat driver and in 2005, was awarded a plaque for attaining one million miles of accident free driving.

One of Joe’s proudest civic activities is his membership in the Loyal Order of the Moose, Flemington Lodge #1829, where he was an Honorary Past Governor and also served as Treasurer, Trustee, and Junior Governor.

With his desire to spread the good works of the Moose, he served in various roles throughout the greater Moose community over the years including serving in NJ Moose Legion #2 as President, Vice President, Financial Director and Chaplain.

In NJ Moose District #6, he served as President and Secretary, and at the NJ State Moose Assoc., he served as Inner Guard, Outer Guard, Membership Chairman and Retention Chairman. He would also serve as Prelate in the NJ Council of Higher Degrees and attained the level of Moose Fellow in 2014, an achievement that he and all of the members of Flemington Moose were most proud. He was also honored by the Flemington Lodge in 2014 as Moose of the Year.

Anyone who knew Joe, knew that being a Moose was simply in his DNA. He was so proud of the good works the fraternity brought to the entire community. If you did not know what the Moose did, Joe would happily educate and indoctrinate you no matter the day, time or wherever you would end up being late too, as once he got going, there was no stopping him—a testament to the depth and spirit of his civic mindedness. He never went anywhere without a stack of Moose membership applications, and the organization is surely stronger for all those he recruited over the years.

Among his other passions were bass fishing and camping, where Joe, Cookie, and their family and friends spent time all over the northeast United States. The couple was very involved with the Penn Coachmen Motorhome Club and the Rolling Wheels Camping Club, with both Joe and Cookie holding several leadership roles in each organization.

Joe and Cookie lived a life together that was based on a love that could only be described in one word: inspirational. The two were inseparable, and their energy together made others want to follow their dreams and reach for the stars. Joe was always so proud of his children and grandchildren, and was their biggest fan and supporter.

An anonymous author once wrote, “People with great passion can make the impossible happen.” Joe was a man of not just passion, but action, and his legacy of family and civic engagement will live on in all those who were lucky enough to hear his cheesy jokes or be inspired by his wide smile and helping advice.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of fifty-six years at the time of her passing in 2018, “Cookie”; a son, Joseph Francis Veneziale Jr. in 2017; and his brothers-in-law, Daniel Jankowski and Richard, Roy, Russell and Ronald Wisniewski.

Surviving are his two sons, Frank and Tony Veneziale; his four grandchildren who lovingly referred to him as, “Pap-Pap”, Erin Nicole, Michael Joseph, Gregory Francis and Scott Anthony Veneziale; his daughters-in-law, Cheri Beck Veneziale Outen and her husband, Jerimy, and Kirsten Posselt Veneziale; his sisters, Theresa Jankowski and Betsy Fernandez; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Raymond and Karen Wisniewski and Robert “Bosh” and Bonnie Wisniewski; his companion of the last year, Carol Meyer; many nieces, nephews and extended family; and many dear friends made wherever he traveled.

Joe will lie in repose on Sunday, January 31, 2021 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ 08822. A Loyal Order of Moose service, followed by words of reflection from family and friends, will begin at 5:00 p.m.

***NOTE: MASS/BURIAL DAY HAS BEEN CHANGED TO THE FOLLOWING DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER*** A Mass of Christian Burial, officiated by Rev. Tom Odorizzi, will be celebrated at St. Ann’s Church, 45 Anderson Street, Raritan, NJ 08869 on Wednesday, February 03, 2021 beginning at 11:00 a.m. and to which all are welcome. Please note that there are no services at the funeral home on Wednesday morning; please meet directly at the church.

Burial with United States Air Force honors in the family plot next to his beloved wife “Cookie”, will follow mass at St. Bernard Roman Catholic Cemetery, 551 Route 28, Bridgewater, NJ 08807.

Realizing that many people will be unable to attend due to the current pandemic restrictions, the Moose/Life Celebration Service on Sunday, and the Mass of Christian Burial and Interment on Monday will be live-streamed with the following links allowing you to be a part of the services virtually:

~Sunday beginning at 4:45 p.m., please click HERE to watch the VIEWING/SERVICE at the funeral home; kindly ensure that you do not have a pop-up blocker installed

~Wednesday beginning at 10:45 a.m., please click HERE to watch the MASS and BURIAL; kindly ensure that you do not have a pop-up blocker installed

It is important to remember that given the current state of the pandemic, masks must be worn at all times on funeral home, church, and cemetery grounds, and social distancing must be maintained. Please follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival at each location. It is also requested that you please remember that only a certain number of people are allowed in the funeral home at any given time so we ask you to please remain cognizant of your time spent with the family so that others may express their love and support as well.

You are encouraged to visit Joe’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

For those who wish to honor this man who brought a smile to any occasion, a fund is being set up to help offset medical and final expenses. Please click HERE to be taken to his personal and secure donation page. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated. For those who wish to mail a contribution, please do so by making a check payable to ‘In Memory Of’, noting ‘Joe Veneziale’ in the memo and mailing to: In Memory Of, P.O. Box 5472, Charlottesville, VA 22905. Any overage will be donated to help the Moose with their charitable works.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”