Homage to Uncle Joe

 

As we celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday, I wanted to pay homage to one of my father’s brothers, my Uncle Joe. He was one of six surviving children after his father was killed while felling trees.  My father was only ten at the time and Joe was not far behind in age.  The family all helped one another, and Uncle Joe tended an apple orchard in the rural Western Massachusetts town of Ware just outside Palmer.   He also grew a vegetable garden and sold the harvest in the fall along with bushels of apples.  He never married, was a modest, hard-working devout man with a heart of gold.  Education was number one in our family, and Uncle Joe helped all of us achieve our dreams and goals in life.  We were all his children, and he took great pride in us.  To all the grandfathers, fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, uncles and men in our lives, I dedicate this post to you and wish a  Happy Father’s Day.  You guided us with your example.  May everyone take time to share family stories and memories.

Homage to Uncle Joe

My father’s brother,
an amazing man,
had apple orchards,
abundant gardens,

fruit trees and
was a thrifty man
who never spent on
himself. He gave

most of it away to
all his nieces and nephews
to help us with
education.

He never married,
but we were all his
children. Devout
Catholic, compassionate man.