Mr. Joseph M. Blake Jr.

OAKVILLE – Joseph M Blake, Jr, 93, of Oakville, CT passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home on March 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He has joined Thespi (Catsoris) Blake, his beloved wife of 63 years.

Joe was born on September 14, 1931, in Brooklyn, NY the son of the late Joseph and Hanora (Maquire) Blake. Raised in Brooklyn, he graduated from Power Memorial Academy in New York City where he was captain of the handball team. Joe worked as a meat cutter at butcher shops and for A&P Markets in NY and Stop & Shop Supermarkets in CT for more than 40 years. Joe loved to listen to Big Band music and make people laugh with his wit and jokes. He was a devoted fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers and loved watching Notre Dame football, UCONN women's basketball and NY Giants games. He especially loved going to the casino with family and friends.

Joe is survived by four children and their spouses – Joseph and Judy Blake, III of St. Cloud, FL, Anthony and Magda Blake of Phillipsburg, NJ, Kenneth and Karen Blake of Watertown, CT, and Catherine Blake of Oakville, CT. Joe will be greatly missed by his nine grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Joe is also survived by his sisters, Sr. Miriam Blake, Eileen D’Amico and Barbara Rath; as well as his sisters-in-law; Catherine Catsoris, Agnes Catsoris, and Rosemary Blake. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings and their spouses, Sr. Elizabeth Blake, Robert Blake, Patricia and Bernie Cregg, Daniel and Joan Blake, Kevin and Christina Blake, Regina and Angelo Guastaferro, his brothers-in-law Joe D’Amico, Bill Rath, John Catsoris and William Catsoris.

The family wants to thank Brianna and Matilda from Highland Caregivers LLC and the entire hospice care team from AccentCare for the care they provided to Joe and his family. A special thank you to his two granddaughters, Kelly Vescera and Allison Blake, for helping the family honor his wishes to remain in his home.

Graveside funeral services for Mr. Blake will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Mount Olivet Cemetery 669 Platt Rd, Watertown, CT 06795. All those planning to attend are asked to meet directly at the cemetery. The Casey-O’Neill Funeral Home 742 Main St, Oakville has been honored to assist the Blake family during this difficult time. To honor Joe’s memory and in lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929, (stjude.org/donatetoday) would be greatly appreciated by his family. Loving-kindness is always welcome, and it only takes a moment to offer a message of condolence, words of comfort, or share a memory with the family and friends of someone important to you. Please visit the funeral home’s tribute page at www.caseyfunerals.com to do so.