Joseph F. Argenta Jr.

Joseph was born in Waterbury on August 10,1934 to Veronica (Dagenais) and Joseph Argenta Sr and spent his early years growing up in Middlebury.

He attended St. Mary’s Grammar School and Sacred Heart High School before joining the U.S. Navy in 1952 during the Korean War. He proudly served as a Hospital Corpman aboard the U.S. Des Moines. He traveled the world during these years and would happily talk to anyone about the countries that he visited and the experiences he had. Joe left active duty in 1956 and spent the next 4 years in the reserves where he was honorably discharged in 1960. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 1979 in Wolcott.

Joe met the love of his life, Jeanne DiMaria, while working together at Risdon Manufacturing in Waterbury, CT and started their 65 years together on April 12,1958. In January of 1960, Joe and Jeanne welcomed their daughter Debra and she was “Daddy’s Little Girl”.

He worked at The Reymond Baking Company until his retirement, and he ended his working career as a school crossing guard in Bristol.

In June of 1992, Joe was able to walk Debbie down the aisle to marry Douglas Richardson and dance with her at their reception to “Daddy’s Little Girl”. Joe later welcomed two grandsons, Dontae and Jayden into the family along with four granddads, Cody, Annie, Austin and Dakota.

Joe was an avid New York Yankees fan but his love for baseball started when he was young and played every day at the “big rock” in Middlebury. He played for local teams and eventually coached at Gilmartin Grammer school where he taught the boys the importance of sportsmanship and teamwork and that it wasn’t always about winning. He eventually became an umpire and looked at the game from the other side of the plate. During Joe and Jeanne’s retirement years, they were able to travel around the country with friends but Joe’s proudest moment was taking Jeanne on her dream vacation to Alaska. Joe and Jeanne moved to Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation in Canaan Ct in August of 2023 where they were able to spend their last days together Joe was lovingly known as “Pappa Joe” by many of the Geer staff.

Joseph is predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Jeanne, his parents, Veronica and Joseph Argenta, his brothers Allen Argenta and David Argenta, his brothers-in-law, Joseph DiMaria, Anthony Spagnoletti and John Cronin, his sister- in-law Nancy DiMaria and his godchild Wendy (DiMaria) Bellemare. Left to cherish his memory are his daughter Debra (Argenta) Richardson and her husband Douglas, his grandsons Dontae and Jayden. His sisters-in-law, Margaret Lenkowski and Lynne Argenta, Marion Spagnoletti and Barbara Cronin. All his treasured nieces and nephews, their spouses and children and all whose heart he touched. The family would like to send special thanks to the doctors, nurses, CNAs and staff at Geer for all the care and support that they provided for Joe, Jeanne and their family.

Calling hours will be December 27, 2024, from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm at DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St. Southington. A Funeral Home service with Military honors will be held at 12:30 pm. To honor Joe and his love for the Navy and baseball, please dress casually for the service including any military and baseball attire.