OBITUARY: Joseph E. Colbert, 104

Below is an obituary from Nichols Funeral Home:

WILMINGTON, MA — Joseph E. Colbert, Sr.,  a long-time resident of Wilmington, MA, peacefully passed away on March 6, 2023, at the age of 104.

Joe was born in East Boston on September 30, 1918; the son of the late Patrick J. and Mary (Woodland) Colbert.   Joe spent his formative years and was educated in Parochial and Public Schools in East Boston.   This is the place where he met and married his beloved childhood sweetheart and wife the late Anna E. (Troy) Colbert; his wife of 59 years.  Joe did whatever he needed to be a wonderful husband, perfect father, a great brother, and true friend. He enjoyed a long-time summer presence in Wilmington-South Tewksbury Silver Lake area permanently moving to Wilmington, MA, in 1943.

Joe was blessed with a large extended family; he was the devoted father of the late Joseph Jr. and wife Virginia Ann (Abbott) of Tewksbury, Ann Marie Snyer and late husband John of Tyngsboro MA, and son Ronald of Wilmington, MA.   Cherished grandfather to Joseph Colbert, MaryJane Galucci, Patricia Morneault, Kathleen Anderson, all of Tewksbury, MA, Kenneth Colbert, Naples FL,  Kristyn Snyer McKenna, Dracut, MA and John Snyer III Hermon, Maine. He is also survived by 14 great grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren.  He was the beloved brother of the late Edward Colbert, Loretta Colbert, Madeline Broker, and Rita Parker.  Joe loved all his family and will forever be missed.

Joe was an East Boston boy that loved employment!   He packed potatoes as an eight- year old boy in a local neighborhood A&P market for 25 cents every Saturday.  Later in his youth he was a messenger for the Boston Stock Exchange, a runner for a newspaper with financial clipping service and an usher at the RKO Theater in downtown Boston and later electrical worker at Bethlaham Steel.    As an adult he was retired with long careers from the Boston and Maine Railroad, Avco (Textron) and Honeywell Corporations.

Joe was a devout Catholic throughout his life; his faith helped him through difficult times. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to honor Joe at his Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Dorothy Church, Parish of the Transfiguration at the corner of Main and Harnden Street in Wilmington, MA on Saturday, March 18th at 10:00 AM.  Rite of Committal will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington.  At Joe’s request there will be no calling hours.   Guests are asked to meet directly at St. Dorothy Church.

In Lieu of flowers, Joe requested that memorial donations in his memory may be sent in his name to his church of St. Dorothy, Parish of the Transfiguration, 11 Harnden Street, Wilmington, MA 01887.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Nichols Funeral Home, Wilmington, MA.  To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit our website at www.nicholsfuneralhome.com.