Joseph Scarlata

Joseph T. Scarlata, 90, of Hopkinton died peacefully in his home after an extended illness on March 1. Joe was born Feb. 8, 1933, in Boston to the late Joseph and Rose (Glennon) Scarlata.

Joseph is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jean (Deneen) Scarlata; his children, Stephen Scarlata and wife Cristina of Riviera Beach, Florida, Mary Scarlata-Rowe and husband Keith of Hopkinton, and Anne Morgan and husband William of Hopkinton; 13 grandchildren, Antonia and Paulina Scarlata, Benjamin and Samuel Lozeau, Adam, Deven and Caroline Rowe, Annie Conway, Elizabeth Ashley and husband Michael, William Morgan and wife Nancy, and Dylan Plotkin; and five great-grandchildren. He also leaves his sister, Rosemary Blair of Canton, sister-in-law Donna Deneen of Hopkinton, nieces and nephews Cathy, Robert, Theresa, John, Susie, Maura, Patrick, Catherine and Dennis and their families, as well as many other cherished relatives and friends. Joseph was predeceased by father figure Paul Daly and brothers-in-law Robert Blair and John Deneen.

Raised in Roslindale, Joseph graduated from BC High in 1951, entered the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Japan as a radio operator. Following his military service, he obtained a degree in business and finance from Babson College.

Joseph met his wife, Jean, in 1962 while both were working at Framingham National Bank. Joe and Jean were married on April 27, 1963, and settled in Jean’s hometown of Hopkinton to start a family and raise their three children. Joseph worked as an accountant through these years and explored different entrepreneurial endeavors.

As Joseph’s Catholic faith grew through the years, he followed his passion and opened St. Anthony’s Book and Gifts on Waverly Street in Framingham. Joe committed himself to his business for 45 years, only recently stepping back from his duties due to illness. A man of great unwavering faith, Joseph spent years devoting himself to his religious passions, including the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Divine Mercy, St. Charbel, the rosary and more. Joseph is well known for sharing messages on how to obtain salvation following God’s laws to everyone through the store and beyond. We are sure anyone who knows Joe would agree he succeeded in his life’s mission of spreading his messages!

Joe was a man who valued his family, faith and country. He loved music, gatherings at the lake, family trips and weekend getaways with friends. He will be greatly missed.

The funeral will be held Monday, March 5, at 9:30 a.m. from the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, 34 Church Street. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. in St. John the Evangelist Parish, 20 Church Street. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home will be held Sunday, March 5, from 4-7 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made in Joseph’s name to St. Benedict Abbey, 252 Still River Road, Still River, MA 01467-0067.

Obituaries are submissions, typically from funeral homes, that are not subject to the same level of editorial oversight as the rest of the Hopkinton Independent. Obituaries may be edited for grammatical and factual mistakes and clarifications and shortened for space considerations.