JOSEPH F. “JOE” SCHIAPPA passed away quietly surrounded by his family on Thursday, August 4, 2022 at the age
of 84. He was born in Everett, MA on October 28, 1937.
He was the eldest son of the late Guido and Anna (Vassallo) Schiappa of South Hadley, MA.
Joe graduated from South Hadley High School where he was a star football player. He married Bernice LaBrie on April 26, 1958.
Together, they shared 64 years of marriage until his passing.
In service to his country, Joe served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. He worked as a machinist mechanic at Avery Denison from which he retired in 1998. Joe was a dedicated family man.
He was predeceased by his parents, Guido and Anna (Vassallo) Schiappa; his brother, Paul Schiappa; sister, Rosemarie (Schiappa) Stevens; and uncle, Salvatore Vassallo. He is survived by his wife, Bernice; brother, Guido (Renee) Schiappa; his three daughters, Jeanann (Floyd) Gilbert of Erin, NY, Theresa Schiappa of Hatfield, MA, and Helene (David) DeSantis of Ludlow, MA; his four grandchildren, Kevin (Corinne) Kennedy, Joey (Rachel) Novelli, Theresa (Pete) McLoughlin, and
Joseph (Kyrstin) Morin; as well as four great-grandchildren, Peter and Raeleigh McLoughlin, and Victor and Logan Morin.
In his leisure time, Joe enjoyed playing golf, bowling, and watching New England sports, but his passion was music. He was best known as a musician (The Varieties and Sounds, Inc.). He was an accomplished accordionist who played from the age of 12 years old until he was well int his seventies.
Joe was an all around great guy who was appreciated for his friendliness, his sense of humor and his willingness to lend a helping hand. You couldn’t go into a store with him without hearing someone shout out, “Hey Joe, how’s it going?”. He greeted everyone with a handshake and a smile and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
A period of visitation will be held on Friday, August 12th from 10:00-11:00 a.m. with a funeral service to begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home. Burial will be held at the family’s convenience. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s memory can be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children. Please visit http://www.beersandstory.com for more information.