Obituary of Joseph Finan

Joseph Finan, known as “Joe” to friends and “Pop-Pop” to his beloved family, passed away peacefully at age 95 in New Jersey after a brief illness. Born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, Joe spent his early years in a close-knit mining town before moving with his family to New Jersey during high school. He is preceded in death by his cherished wife, Margaret, with whom he shared 59 wonderful years of marriage, and leaves behind a loving family: his daughter Diane and husband Carlos Oliver, son Joseph and wife Joanne, and grandchildren Cassandra Thurston and husband George, Alex Oliver and wife Alyssa, Andrea Spurr and husband Mike. His greatest joy was spending time with his great-grandchildren, Isla, Alice, Josephine, and Alina, whom he adored.

A dedicated salesman in the industrial hardware industry, Joe enjoyed a long and fulfilling career before retirement, where he was known as “Irish.” Proud of his service, he spent eight years with the U.S. Army National Guard. Joe was a longtime member and treasurer of the Schuyler Tuna Club, where he served for an impressive 65 years. He was also a steadfast supporter of his local American Legion posts, finding fellowship and camaraderie wherever he lived. This past year, he was honored to serve as the Grand Marshal of the Warren Memorial Day Parade, representing the American Legion Post 293.

Joe’s Irish roots were a cherished part of his life; he was a devoted Notre Dame and Penn State fan and made his first trip to Ireland with his family in 2018 at age 88. Ever the spirited traveler, he was the first to the pub and the last to call it a night, showing up the younger generations with his lively energy. A lifelong Yankees fan and lover of baseball, Joe also enjoyed fishing in his free time—always quick to share his catch with others, as he never developed a taste for fish himself. Before becoming a dedicated caregiver to Margaret, Joe was known for spending hours on the water, finding peace and joy in the simple act of fishing.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for Joe on Wednesday October 23^rd at 11:00 AM at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 2 White Bridge Road, Pittstown NJ. Friends and relatives may greet Joe’s family from 10:00 AM until the start of the mass at 11:00 AM. All services will be held at the church. Arrangements are under the care of Martin Funeral Home, Clinton NJ. To send condolences to the family please visit www.martinfh.com.

In celebration of his heritage and zest for life, we encourage everyone to wear a shade of green on the day of the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe’s memory to the American Legion (Please Click Here to Donate) or to a veteran’s charity of your choice.