Joseph (Joe) John Welch, 42, of Pawling NY (originally from Sheffield, MA) passed away surrounded by family on March 17, 2023 after a long illness. He is survived by his wife of 10 years,
Antonella Albanese, two beautiful daughters Lilliana Grace (7) and Mila Rose (2), a sister Cailin Welch of Gaylordsville CT, his parents Joseph and Rita Welch of Sheffield MA, his in laws, the Albanese and Cutri families of Westchester, NY.
Joe grew up in Sheffield, MA attending Salisbury Prep School where he played hockey, soccer and was on the crew team. He graduated with honors in 1999. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed in San Francisco, CA for 4 years. He was a fireman and worked search and rescue in the Bay Area. Upon returning home to Sheffield, he worked in the building trade. His love of cars led him to enroll at Nascar Technical School in Moorseville, NC where he lived and worked for a few years.
Then, missing family and friends, he returned home to the Berkshires and returned to working in the building trade. In 2009, he met his beautiful wife Antonella, fell in love, and moved to Mt. Kisco, NY to be closer to her. They married in 2012. In 2015 their first daughter was born and a few months later Joe received a devastating diagnosis of esophageal cancer. Following months of chemo and radiation, he endured a life altering surgery at UPMC in Pennsylvania followed by a long recovery. He remained in remission for six and a half years. During this time, he and Antonella purchased their first home in Pawling, NY and their second daughter was born in 2020. Cancer returned in 2022 and he fought for nearly one year until he could fight no more. Joe loved cars, sports, heavy metal music, his Harley motorcycle but above all his wife, daughters and family.
He will be remembered for his sense of humor, his ability to fix almost anything, his amazing painting skills, and devotion to family. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at the Horn & Thomes, Inc Funeral Home, 83 East Main Street Pawling, NY. 4-8 PM.
In lieu of flowers the family has set up a GoFundMe page https://gofund.me/e8a390c8 to help start an education fund for Joe’s two children.
A private funeral mass for immediate family will be held on Wednesday March 22nd.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Horn & Thomes, Inc. Funeral Home, 83 East Main Street, Pawling, NY.
