Joseph S. DeFusco

Joseph S. DeFusco, 75, of Worcester, formerly of Providence, passed away Sunday, July 17, 2022 at UMass Medical Center surrounded by family. Born July 6, 1947, in Providence he was the son of the late Joseph and Lucia (Sarchioni) DeFusco.

Joe grew up on Federal Hill in Providence until the age of 5 when his family moved to Warwick.  Joe loved to reminisce about family trips to the beach every weekend and to Old Orchard Beach with the whole family when he was young. Joe attended and graduated from LaSalle Academy and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Bryant University in Business Management. Joe was the general manager of National Office Furniture for several years before retiring. After retiring, Joe put on jeans for daily wear and never looked back, he said “I wore a suit for 40 years, and I’m not dolling up anymore” Joe was a member of the Order of the Elks for years and took much joy in hosting raffles to raise money for various charities. Joe loved spending time with his family and friends, he was always looking forward to gatherings and outings where good conversations and laughs were always a plenty as he had an amazing personality and unrivaled humor. He never met a stranger in his life, Joe was warm and welcoming to all. Everybody was his friend. Joe was extremely close to his sister Carol and her Husband Alfred and loved spending time with them, there was always good coffee, good food and good times when they were together. Joe adored his aunt Elena as she became his second mother when Joe’s mother passed when he was 23. They had the strongest bond full of love. Elena was always fussing over Joe and making sure he was ok, as he did with her. Joe is predeceased by his sister Susan Bolvin, whom he loved and missed very much.

Joe loved to travel, he loved to get in the car with his family and drive from Worcester to a new destination all up and down the east coast. He was extremely close with Marcia’s two brothers (Les and Babe) and enjoyed their company and comradery as if they were his own brothers. They were always planning on the next clam bake. Joe was adored by his two step-daughters Gloria and Angelina, he easily stepped into the role of step-father and was there to walk Gloria down the aisle for her wedding, beaming with joy. He enjoyed vacationing at the Cape and enjoying a nice lunch at the Yacht Club with the apple of his eye, his Fiancé Marcia. Joe and Marcia met 11 years ago, according to Joe, “it was fate that brought them together”.  Joe was always surrounded by friends, his best friend George O’Garek was his closest friend of 50 years, basically brothers. Joe was always a favorite at the SunnySide Club where he loved being served laughs by Brian Vincent.  Joe was an avid Yankees fan, wherever there was a game or news about the Yankees, Joe was front and center to witness. Joe adored his dog Bijou who will miss sitting next to him in his chair.

Joe leaves his loving Fiancé, Marcia L. Frangiosa; two daughters, Gina Hefner and her husband Paul, and Jennifer Billings and her husband Michael; his grandchildren, Oliver, Annina, and Sofia; his sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Alfred Cianci; his aunt, Eleanor Fox; his stepdaughters, Angelina Frangiosa and Gloria Huntley and her husband Henry Huntley, a loving son-in-law who was always there for Joe - any time he needed him; and his best friend, George O’Garek; several cousins and nieces and nephews.

Relatives are invited to a memorial service Saturday, July 30 at 11am in the “WOODLAWN” Funeral Home, 600 Pontiac Ave., Cranston. Burial will be private. Visitation will take place before the memorial service from 10am until 11am.

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