Joseph L. Owens

Owens, Joseph L. (“Red”), 88, of Quincy, formerly of Dorchester and Jamaica Plain. Beloved husband for 59 years of Joanne (Cogliano) and devoted father of six daughters:  Marie and Carol of Dorchester; Suzanne & husband Doug Smith of Milton; Laura & husband Michael Gazzola and Elizabeth & husband Martin Rigby of Quincy; Nancy & husband Daniel Marston of Canberra, Australia. Loving grandfather of Isabelle, Rosalind & Caleb Smith; Julianne Gazzola; Owen & Martin Rigby; and Bronwen Marston. Brother of Rita and her husband Myles Milch of Randolph; pre-deceased by parents (Leslie) James and Elizabeth (Ferry) and siblings James, Veronica Acres, Virginia Doucette, and Paul. Joe is survived by many nieces and nephews, their children & grandchildren. 

 A graduate of Jamaica Plain High School, Joe was an outstanding schoolboy athlete. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served during the post-World War II occupation of the Philippines, playing on a USO baseball team. Joe worked in the City of Boston Planning Department and then at Bell Telephone. After attending night school for seven years, he graduated from Northeastern University with a B.S. in Engineering in 1970. Joe retired as an engineer from NYNEX in 1993.  He volunteered for many years on the boards of the Girls Latin School/Boston Latin Academy PTO, the Boston Citywide PTO, and the Codman Hill Civic Association. 

Joe filled many roles as a loving son, brother, uncle, husband, father and grandfather, but was most of all a kind and gentle person, enjoying time with family and encouraging the accomplishments of those around him. Joe faithfully followed the fortunes of the Red Sox through many victories and defeats over the years. 

Special thanks to Dr. Leonard Lilly, Dr. Jeffrey Wu, Dr. Richard Marquis, and the staff at Atria Marina Place, Celtic Angels, John Scott House, and Old Colony Hospice for their loving care and support. 

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Thursday 4-8 PM in the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St., QUINCY. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 9:15 AM on Friday prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Gregory’s Church – Dorchester at 10 AM. Burial in New Calvary Cemetery, Boston.