Joseph Foley Obituary

Joseph FOLEY, 90, loving husband of the late Carol (nee Wissemes) for almost 60
years. Left to mourn his passing are six devoted children, Melissa Fuller (John), Jennifer
Mocny (Alan), Carrie Foley, Marjorie Paredes (Jose), Maribeth Young (Arthur) and John
Foley. Remaining to forever cherish his memory are his grandchildren, Brian (Emilee)
Fuller, Robert (Anna) Fuller, Conner, Sean, and Allison Mocny, Lauren O'Malley, Bridget
(Brandon) Lucas and Colleen Fuller, Andrew, Keira and Aidan Paredes, Sarah Young,
Aileen (Joe) Davis, Thomas (Kenzie) Young and Clare Young. Also blessed to have
known Joseph are his great grandchildren, Greyson Fuller, Dylan and Abigail O'Malley,
Joseph, Luca and Gia Fuller, Charlotte and Ellie Davis, and expected to arrive in
November, is baby boy Young. Joesph was preceded in death by his parents, John and
Mary, and siblings Barbara, John, William, Anthony and Francis. He leaves behind his
brother Matthew, and sisters Sarah and Bernadette. Visitation at St. John Cantius Church on Friday July 11 from 10-11:30 a.m. with a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment private.
My Grandad was the strongest person I know. He had a gentle soul and found joy in the
simple things: animals, Coca-Cola, ice cream, running, music, God, and most of all, his
family. He wasn't just my grandad. He was my teacher, my friend, my role model, and my
father figure. He took me to school, ran beside me, came to my games, and showed me
what it means to love with patience and kindness.
But more than anything, he taught me how to be a good person. Through the way he
lived, generous, humble, lighthearted, and full of love, he showed me what truly matters
in life. I am so incredibly lucky to have had him in my life. I will carry his lessons, his laughter,
and his spirit with me always.
I miss you deeply already, Grandad. - Colleen
My favorite memory with my grandfather was running with him at the park. The days were very hot and he
would push me to exhaustion. I will miss him especially during the holidays when we would watch the games.
The small things we did meant everything like his jokes and all his stubbornness. He always wanted to do things
by himself and I had the utmost respect for him when even in times when he needed help he always kept going.
He was the best grandfather I could ask for and I love you grandad. - Andrew
When looking back on my time with Grandad, I am grateful to have so many memorable moments that stand
out. Grandad always encouraged us to live a healthy and fulfilling life. During the summer, he would pick up the
grand kids early in the morning and drive us to Riis park to run; teaching us how to run with correct form and
pushed us so we improved. After our runs, he would open the trunk to the van and have juice boxes for us. It's
memories like these that I will cherish and serve as a reminder for who he was as a grandfather. Grandad would
always greet you warmly saying "Hi hun, how are you?" And would stop his spider solitaire or Old Hollywood
Cowboy movies just to talk to us. Grandad truly cared about his family and cherished every moment he shared
with us. He always knew how to make us laugh and think. The deep philosophical questions or statements he
would say would always make us smile and laugh: asking "is the water wet?" after we went swimming or
imploring us to "dodge the raindrops" if it was raining. However, one thing that will truly stick with me is
whenever we felt down about ourselves, he would always say "they don't make diamonds as big as bricks."
Grandad always wanted us to do our best and was a pillar of support for the whole family. His presence will be
missed deeply, but his impact on our lives will live on forever.
Au revoir, Grandad! - Sean
I remember coming into Grandma and Grandad's house for Sunday dinner and Grandma greeting me at the
door letting me know that my grandfather had an article saved for me that he wanted to talk with me about. My
grandad, a grown intelligent man who admired the Greeks, wanted to talk to 15-year-old me about my opinion
on some world issue or development in the Catholic Church? He genuinely did. And the fact that he was
perhaps too shy to tell me himself made me feel even more touched.
There are many things about my grandad that I treasure and will dearly miss: his banging of the table with his
hand along to the beat of a song at Irish fest, his mumbled "Shoot! Shoot!" as he watched a soccer game on TV
or stood behind me and the goal at mine, and his astute observations (such as the rain is pretty wet today). But
what I will miss about my grandad the most is the true care I felt from him, a care he quietly expressed through
the attention he paid. My grandad was genuinely interested in my thoughts and truly believed that not only was I
capable of doing anything I wanted to but that I was way better suited to doing most things than these other
"knuckleheads."
I experienced his love as radical and complete, as close an expression of the love God has for his children that I
can imagine, a love that I know my grandad believed so deeply in. This love unknowingly cultivated a cult-figure
like admiration for him amongst his grandchildren: ask any of us and I'm sure each would say that he was one
of our all-time favorite people.
For a principled man, he was humble and accepting. For a man who grew up in the remote countryside of
Ireland, he was incredibly worldly: interested in books, music, history, and philosophy. And for a man who spent
many early years alone in some way, he came to foster a large, loving family whom he so welcomingly opened
into his home.
My grandad's favorite story about him and I comes from the first grandkids' vacation he and my grandma took
me on. My grandad was driving, and cautious five-year-old me feared for the safety of all of us in the car, so I
kept loudly encouraging my grandad to "Slow down!," as he whipped around corners. So, Grandad, I know you
will be excited to see Grandma again, but please don't drive too fast together up there in heaven. Fast turns still
make me nervous.
Sarah
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