JOSEPH STEPHEN PUGLIA -Obituary
Joseph Stephen Puglia of Elmer on Friday, October 29, 2021. Age 67. Husband of 50 years to Diane Dorothy Puglia (nee McCord). Father of Jennifer & Tony Pippeti and their children Natalie, Dominick, Nikko, Gianna, Sal, Mateo, Joseph, and Sophia; Stephanie Puglia & William Concepcion and their children Anthony Fareri and Nyena Concepcion; Stephen & Dana Puglia and their children Stephen and Cali; and Valerie & Kevin Fareri and their children Kevin, Giovanni, Vincenzo, and Leiliana. Brother of Sal & Kim Puglia and their children Michael Puglia (Diana), Danielle Ballak (Paul), and Mathew Puglia; Nicholas & Cass Puglia and their children Desiree Puglia, Crystal Moore (Chris), Lynda Puglia, Nicholas Puglia (Heather), and the late Salvatore Puglia; Elsie & Vincent Kelly and their children William Ruby, Vincent Keith Kelly, and Bridget Dilks (Ray); and Dawn Esgro and her children Christopher Esgro (Annette) and Anthony Esgro (Jessica). Son of the late Salvatore Stephen & Elsie Rae (nee Young) Puglia.
Born and raised in Glassboro, Joseph was a 30+ year resident of Clayton before moving to Elmer 10 years ago. He attended Glassboro Public Schools and transferred to Clayton High School his senior year where he graduated in 1971. Joseph worked for Reliance Drilling for 20 years and later McKinney Drilling for another 10 years. He retired from Case Foundation of Berwyn, PA in 2020 after 25 years of service.
Joseph was a coach of both Midget Football and Little League Baseball in Clayton for 13 years. He was a longtime member of the Clayton Elks Lodge where he played softball for their men’s softball team in his younger years. Joseph enjoyed hunting, fishing, and crabbing and absolutely loved to BBQ even winning several barbeque competitions. Throughout his life, Joseph loved music. In his youth, he was part of the band Jam City and later he was “Singing with Steve”, a Karaoke DJ who played at the Clayton Elks Lodge for 10 years and even did a few weddings.
Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing on Thursday, November 4, 2021, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and on Friday, November 5, 2021, from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at the BARCLAY FUNERAL HOME, 208 Maple Street, Clayton, NJ 08312. Funeral Mass on Friday at 11:00 AM at Saint Catherine of Siena RC Church, 49 W. North Street, Clayton. Interment Cedar Green Cemetery, Clayton. Sign the guestbook at BarclayFuneralHome.net.