NORTHBOROUGH Joseph (Giuseppe) Cavaretta ("Joe"), 95, of Northborough, Massachusetts passed away at St. Francis Nursing Center in Worcester, Massachusetts on February 12, 2018. Joe was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts on December 26, 1922 and was preceded in death by his wife Jenny Victoria (Natale) Cavaretta, his parents Paolo and Josephine Cavarretta (originally from Salemi, Sicily), his brothers Paolo (Paul), Salvatore (Sal), Francesco (Frank), Giovanni (John), and Liborio (Bob), and his sisters Josephine (Josie) and Catarina (Catherine). Joe is survived by his sister Maria (Mary) Terry, sons J. James Cavaretta, Charles Cavaretta, Michael Cavaretta, daughter Christine Loomis, son-in-law Gary Loomis, and daughters-in-law Kathy F. Cavaretta, Kathy K. Cavaretta, and Donna Cavaretta. He is also survived by his eight grandchildren; Timothy Cavaretta, Jeffery Cavaretta, Elizabeth (Loomis) Wilson, Jonathan Loomis, Amy (Cavaretta) Dunham, Jennifer Cavaretta, Kyle Cavaretta and Hannah Cavaretta as well as three great- grandchildren Felix McGinley, Nathaniel Wilson, and Olivia Dunham. Following his youth in Lawrence, Massachusetts during the 1920-1930's Great Depression period, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. He served in the South Pacific on troop ships, transporting soldiers between islands and onto the beaches. He served on LCI's, (Landing Craft Infantry) with stops in Pearl Harbor, Okinawa, Guam, Tinian and finally Saipan where preparations were underway for a full-scale invasion of Japan when the war ended. After returning from the war, he went to work for the Thom McAn Shoe Company, initially as a salesman and working his way up to store manager. He met his wife Jenny Natale at a ballroom dance in Barrington, Rhode Island and they were married in 1949. They lived in Washington, DC for a period then returned to New England where they settled in Warwick, Rhode Island to raise their family. During the 1970's Joe struck out on his own, owning and managing several Hallmark card and gift stores in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He was a natural businessman, negotiator, and deal-maker, always looking for an edge and willing to out-work the competition. Joe and Jenny lived in Cranston, Rhode Island and then Kennebunk, Maine as he neared retirement before ultimately moving to Northborough, Massachusetts. The story of Joe and Jenny Cavaretta was a classic "Greatest Generation" story; serving the country during WW II, him in the South Pacific and her in a military factory in Rhode Island, raising a family of four children in the 1950's-1960's suburbs, starting their own businesses, working hard to send their children to college, and then enjoying the fruits of their labor in Maine and Florida. They were married for 56 years before Jenny's passing in 2005. Their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends, and family members miss them both very much but take comfort that they are now together in heaven in God's arms. A memorial service for Joseph Cavaretta will be held at 11 O'Clock in the Morning at Gate of Heaven Chapel on April 14, 2018. He will be interred at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Riverside, Rhode Island next to his wife Jenny. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Veterans Inc., 69 Grove St, Worcester, MA 01605. Veterans Inc. is a nationally recognized support organization assisting veterans. Service Information Saturday April 14, 2018 11:00am, Gates of Heaven Cemetery Chapel 550 Wampanoag Trail Riverside, RI Interment Location Gates of Heaven Cemetery 550 Wampanoag Trail Riverside, RI