Joseph E. Hughes, Sr.

Watertown – Mr. Joseph E. Hughes, Sr., of Watertown, died Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton. He was 86.

Joe was born at Saint Elizabeth’s on February 9, 1925, a son of the late William H. and Emily (Doyle) Hughes, and had been a lifelong resident of Watertown. He was a graduate of Saint Patrick’s High School in Watertown where he first met his future wife, Alice. He was in the school band and played the French horn and the piano.

After high school, Joe decided to become a priest and entered the seminary with the Stigmatine Fathers and remained there for three years. It was there that he learned to read and write in Latin. During this time Joe decided that the priesthood was not for him and he enlisted with the United States Army. He was a paratrooper and served in Japan for a year and a half. After coming home Joe attended a minstrel show and noticed a striking young woman getting ready for the performance. He asked a friend of his to introduce them and discovered that it was his old high school friend, Alice McHugh. Joe asked Alice out after the show and two years later they were married.

Joe entered the family business, W.H. Hughes Electrical Contractors, and worked as an electrician along with his father and brothers. He later worked as an electrician for the Hewlett-Packard Company until his retirement.

He was a longtime parishioner at Saint Jude’s Church in Waltham where he and Alice volunteered for any tasks asked of them. He was an usher for years at the 8:30 Mass on Sundays and once took on the job of painting the entire inside of the church by himself. He also installed the outdoor steeple lighting in memory of his son, Joe, Jr. who died in 1988.

Joe leaves his wife of 61 years, Alice J. (McHugh) Hughes; his children, Maureen E. Hughes of Walpole, Ann Marie Carroll of Worcester, Patricia A. Doucette of Marlborough and Thomas M. Hughes of Auburndale; his grandchildren, Lynn DiZazzo, Michael Carroll, Kerri Doucette, Thomas Doucette, Jr., Christina Abreu and Joseph Hughes; his great-grandchildren, Alina Abreu and Kira DiZazzo; his brothers, Robert Hughes of Waltham, Richard Hughes of West Roxbury and Paul Hughes of Watertown and many nieces and nephews.

He was also the father of late Kathleen Hughes and Joseph E. Hughes, Jr. and a brother of the late William Hughes.

Family and friends will honor and remember Joe’s life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Sunday, March 20th, from 3 to 7 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Monday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Saint Patrick’s Cemetery, Watertown.

Memorial donations may be made to Saint Jude Parish, 147 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02453.