Joseph Vincent Padula, age 90 years, of High Bridge Borough, NJ, died peacefully on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at home, surrounded by his loving family and under the caring watch of VNA Hospice of Northern Jersey.

Born in Santa Barbara, Italy, March 8, 1929, son of the late Vincent Gerard and Mariantoinette Chirio Padula, he had lived in High Bridge for the past two years. Emigrating to the United States at the age of nine, he moved to Brooklyn, NY. He later lived in Piscataway, NJ and Tarpon Springs, FL.

A 1950 graduate of Fort High School, Brooklyn, NY, Joseph was an agent for D. F. Young Exporters, NYC, NY for his entire career. He was known by his colleagues as a man of integrity and hard work, and was always looked to for advice.

Devoted to his catholic faith and upbringing, Joseph’s daily prayer was something those who knew him set their watch by; he prayed for family and friends, those he knew and those he did not know. His prayers, always consisting of a rosary, grounded him and inspired him. He was a longtime member of Our Lady of Angels Church, Brooklyn, NY, Our Lady of Fatima Church, Piscataway, NJ, St. Ignatius Church, Tarpon Springs, FL, and St. Joseph’s Church, High Bridge, NJ. He was also a fourth degree Knight of Columbus.

While faith and hard work grounded him, love is what brought his heart full circle. Meeting his future wife, Mary, at a swimming pool in Brooklyn, the two soon became inseparable and were married on September 13, 1952 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Brooklyn, NY. Their union would result in eight children and sixteen great grandchildren, a departure for Joseph who was an only child, but nevertheless a family that he had dreamed of for years.

He had many hobbies, and coming from an Italian family, eating was always on his list. Good food, accompanied by a fine glass of vino and homemade sauce always made him smile! He was also an avid bowler, currently playing on the senior team at Oakwood Lanes, Washington, NJ.

Music was an integral part of his life, and he was a drummer and a band leader for several years playing weddings, dances and many other venues. “Joe Padula and his Orchestra” where sought after for many years, and Joe found life in every musical note.

It is written in Corinthians, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” It will be said that Joseph Padula lived his life based on faith and hope, and that his actions were rooted in love. There can be no greater legacy.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first child, Joseph in 1953, and by a son-in-law, Craig “Butch” Ward.

Surviving are his wife, Mary Dowd Padula; his children, Deborah and her husband, James Stuckey, Elizabeth Ann Ward, Vincent Padula and his wife, Irene, Peter Padula and his wife, Tina, James Padula, Bernadette and her husband, Christopher Wescott, and Maria Latargia; his grandchildren, Craig Ward, Nicole Stuckey, James Stuckey, Danielle Stuckey, Anthony Padula, Christine Padula, Nicholas Padula, Peter Padula, Joseph Padula, Angelo Padula, Melissa Padula, Jessica Wescott, Samantha Wescott, Emily Wescott, Alyssa Latargia, and Jake Latargia; numerous extended family; and many dear friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. James Kyrpczak on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, 59 Main Street, High Bridge, NJ 08829 under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

Interment will be private.

Following Mass, all are invited to join to family for lunch and continued fellowship in the Parish Center located within the Church.

Please visit Joseph’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com where one can light a memorial candle and leave a message of condolence and words of comfort, as well as share stories and photographs of his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Joseph’s honor may be made to the church at the above address.

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