Joseph A. LaCombe, 89, of New Britain CT passed peacefully into eternal rest on March 29, 2019. He was born in Worcester MA to the late Herve and Colombe LaCombe (Boileau) on December 14, 1929. He was an alter boy at St. Ann’s Church in Shrewsbury MA for several years. He attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Minor Seminary, Ontario Canada from 1944-1947. He then attended St. Peter High School, Worcester MA, where he graduated in 1948. He has been a long-time parishioner of St. Francis Catholic Church in New Britain. Joseph was a proud veteran of the Korean War, having served in the United States Army from 1948-1952. He worked as a welder for 33 years at Pratt & Whitney, East Hartford CT, having retired in 1992. He was a proud member of the Club 9 1960 strike and a strong participant in the LL 1746 union. He was an avid Red Sox fan and huge music buff, particularly enjoying music of the Big Band Era. He enjoyed researching music and constantly adding to his collection of recordings. He took up running in his early 40’s and loved participating in local road races. He was very health conscious and prided himself on taking good care of himself. He had a wonderful sense of humor and had a great time telling jokes. He was a constant tinkerer and loved to fix things, sometimes even things that weren’t ‘broken’. He loved playing with his grandchildren and telling them his made-up stories. He also had a great knack for getting one of his upset baby grandchildren to stop crying. Joseph is survived by his beloved wife, Lillian LaCombe and her son Jeff Maliki. He leaves behind his five children, sons Joseph LaCombe Jr, and his wife Lorraine of East Hartford CT and Thomas LaCombe of Vowinckel PA, daughters Debera Fitzgerald and her husband Wayne of Clarington PA, Carol Manning and her fiancé James O’Brien of Mansfield Center CT and Sharon Nisch and her husband James of Danbury CT. In addition he leaves eleven grandchildren; Lillian Kasavage, Lonnie Beaudoin, Marissa Nuhfer, Starr Fitzgerald, Roger Manning, Brad Manning, Richard Manning, Christopher Nisch, Maureen Nisch, Angel LaCombe, Joey LaCombe and Darren Malicki. He also left behind eight great grandchildren; Bethany Kasavage, Jacob Kasavage, Bradley Nuhfer, Anthony Manning, Vanessa Manning, James Manning, William Manning and 2 month old Riley Nisch. He is also survived by his brother John Paul LaCombe of Worcester MA and sisters Rhea Roy of North Attleboro MA and Theresa Grogan-Bell of Spencer MA. He is predeceased by his sister Marie LaCombe. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 8:30am at the New Britain Memorial-Donald D. Sagarino Funeral Home 444 Farmington Ave. New Britain followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 AM in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1755 Stanley St. New Britain. A committal with full military honors will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, New Britain. Visitation will be on Tuesday April 2nd from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jimmy Fund Cancer Research Foundation, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Fl, Boston MA 02445-7226 or by going to www.jimmyfund.org. To see a full obituary, directions or to leave an online condolence, please visit newbritainsagarino.com
