Joseph Cronin, age 76, passed away Saturday, May 27th after battling lung cancer. He spent his final days surrounded by his family. He leaves behind his son, Michael and daughter in law Ann Marie of Whitefield, NH and his daughter Julie (Gilchrist) and her husband Ulysses of Reading, MA as well as his 3 granddaughters, Olivia, Isabella and Sophia whom he was immensely proud of. He also leaves his sisters Diane Cronin and Patricia Martinello and brother-in-law Steve Martinello, all of Peabody, MA. Joe was married to his devoted wife Gloria for 50 years until her death in 2018.

Born July 10, 1946 in Chelsea, MA to Francis and Ruth Cronin, Joe attended Everett Vocational High School and was drafted into the US Army in August 1966. He served active duty in Vietnam from 1966-1967 as a member of Company D of the 229th Aviation Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division.  He was wounded during a rocket attack; earning a Purple Heart for his injuries.  He was a proud veteran all of his life.

Joe married his loving wife upon his return from Vietnam and went on to raise his two children in Saugus, MA, Joe was a true family man and strove to provide a better life for his children with the goal of sending them both to college, which he successfully did.

He was a machinist and shop supervisor by trade; spending many years working for PX Engineering, General Scanning and, according to him, the best retirement job as a technical instructor in the Pappalardo Lab at MIT.

The Catholic faith was very important to Joe and he was a longtime parishioner of St. Margaret's Church in Saugus and St. Theresa's in North Reading.  Joe loved to go camping in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, play golf…only cheating a little…and travel with his wife.

Joe will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure to know and love him.

Funeral from the Cota Funeral Home on Friday, June 2nd at 9:30am. Funeral Mass in St. Theresa's Church, 63 Winter St. (Rte. 62), North Reading at 10:30am. Relatives and friends may visit at the funeral home Thursday 4pm thru 7pm. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joseph's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905.