Obituary of Joseph Garvey

Joseph “Uncle Joe”, “The Rooster” Garvey of Warwick, NY, a retired bus driver for Schervier Pavilion and Mt. Alverno, Warwick, entered into rest on Monday, January 30, 2023.  He was 89. 

The son of the late Clarence Garvey and Ruth Maher Garvey, he was born on August 28, 1933 in Hempstead, NY.  He attended school on Long Island and graduated from Bishop Loughlin Catholic High School in Brooklyn NY.  After serving in the Army from 1955-1957, he moved to Warwick NY, with his family.  He worked at several companies including Georgia Pacific and Union Carbide, and continued to volunteer at Schervier Pavilion and Mt Alverno delivering hot food to the residences and entertaining the staff with his crazy sense of humor. 

Joe was a man of deep faith.  He attended multiple masses on Sunday including at St Joseph’s in Florida, NY and Mt. Carmel in Middletown, NY and joined other faith communities too.  You could often find Joe in a church parking lot saying the rosary.  He was a proud “friend of Bill W”, and celebrated 45 years of sobriety in December.  Joe was always available to anyone who needed a ride to an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting, or needed to speak to someone late at night to help them through a tough moment.  

Joe loved sending cards for any and every occasion.  He loved the NY Islanders and NY Mets and any team playing against the NY Yankees. His family and friends at Schervier Pavilion and Mt Alverno, Devon Woods and Larry’s deli will miss his stories, his humor and his iconic laugh.  

He is survived by his brother, Eugene Garvey (Tinton Falls, NJ); sisters, Therese Fox (Brea, OH) and Kathleen Garvey (Warwick, NY); nieces and nephews, Mary Fox, Jennifer Garczynski, Colleen Hopkins, Kathleen Fox, Pam McGongial, Paul Fox, Kevin Fox, Robert Garvey, Michael Garvey, John Garvey, Gerard Garvey, Mary Gardiner, Allison Erwin, David Shuback, Susan Shuback and Tracy Trollinger-Conroy (James Conroy); special great nieces and nephews, Danielle Shuback, Amanda Frantz, Zachary and Adam Trollinger; Joseph, Christopher and Peter Burkart.  He is preceded in death by his brothers Thomas and Robert Garvey;  sisters Sr Eugenia (Mary) and Sr. Helen Garvey; nieces and nephews Karen Garvey, Thomas, Michael and Brendan Fox and nephew-in-law Kenny Trollinger. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 3^rd from 4-7pm at T.S. Purta Funeral Home, 22 Glenmere Avenue, Florida, NY 10921.

A funeral mass will be held 10:00AM Saturday, February 4^th at St. Joseph Church, 20 Glenmere Avenue, Florida, NY 10921.  A private cremation will follow the funeral mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities USA, 2050 Ballenger Ave Suite 400, Alexandria VA 22314.