Joe Socha, 84, passed away peacefully on April 27th at his home in Spencer after a brief battle with cancer. He was born in Worcester on August 25, 1938, to Catherine and Felix Socha. Joe attended St. Mary's High School and spoke fondly of growing up on Ellsworth Street with his sister, Cathy Zereski. He married his wife Marguerite “Peg” (Barry) in 1957 and was a loving father to his three children, Joseph, Stephen, and Diane.
More than anything, Joe loved having all of his family together, though cruising around Stiles Reservoir in his pontoon boat was a close second. If he wasn’t at the lake with his family, Joe was usually on the golf course or enjoying a corn muffin and coffee at Buddy’s Spa with his best friends Rich and Johnnie G.
Joe started his career at the gas company in Worcester when he was 18 years old. He remained there for the next 40 years, eventually becoming the superintendent of the street department, then of distribution, at Commonwealth Gas Company—a post he greatly enjoyed. Upon retiring in 1997, he received a Key to the City of Worcester for his four decades of service. Joe also served in the National Guard, was a member of the Auburn Lodge of Elks, and sat on several committees for the Polish Naturalization Independent (PNI) Club, of which he was president for many years. Naturally, he became an unofficial Worcester historian for his family and friends.
Joe will be enormously missed by his wife, Peg, his sons and daughters-in-law, Joe and Tammy Socha, and Steve and Tina Socha; and his daughter and son-in-law, Diane and John Bilis. He’ll also be deeply missed by his 10 grandchildren, Rebekah, Nicholas, Daniel, Jacqueline, Madeline, Mollie, Kurt, Timothy, Erin, and Stella; as well as his 3 great-grandchildren, Samuel, Kinsley, and Stephanie.
His funeral is Monday, May 1st from O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue, Worcester with his funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. at St. Aloysius-St. Jude Parish, 489 Pleasant St, Leicester. Entombment will follow in St. John's Mausoleum, Worcester. His calling hours will be held on Sunday, April 30th from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the National League of POW/MIA Families, 5673 Columbia Pike, Suite 100 in Falls Church, VA 22041 or Problem Pregnancy, 495 Pleasant Street, Worcester, MA 01609 and enjoy a slice of hamburg pizza in Joe's honor.