Joseph S. Turchetta (Joe or "Mr. Joe") died on Sunday, October 14, 2012 following a long, fulfilled and inspirational life. He was 89 years old.

Joe was born on August 25, 1923, in Altoona, PA. to Serafino and Maria Vincenza Turchetta. He was one of eight brothers and sisters. He attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel grade school and Altoona Catholic High School where he played football and basketball. He enlisted in the Army and was one of 10 men picked to go to Headquarters Division Station in Greenland during World War II. Upon returning from the war, he became the proprietor of Joe's Atlantic Service station, Altoona, PA. He prided himself on sponsoring the local high school football and basketball teams and it was during this time he became a staunch Notre Dame football fan.

On November 16, 1957 he married the love of his life, Miss Hilda L. Mittendorfer. In 1961 he moved his family to Maryland to take a job with the National Security Agency. He was a devoted civilian servant for 26 years, retiring from NSA in 1986. Joe doted on his wife and family and spent much of his time perfecting his yard, growing vegetables in his garden, fishing, and coaching his daughters in softball. He enjoyed photography, woodworking, model trains and watching his favorite Baltimore sports teams on TV. Following his retirement he worked as Chief of Security at the Empire Towers in Glen Burnie, MD.

Joe was a devoted Catholic who spent much of his life volunteering at the church. He served nine years on the Liturgy Committee, served 20 plus years as an usher, was President of the Holy Name Society; and was a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus for over 45 years. He was awarded the Governor's Citation in 1995 for his active role in numerous civic and charitable endeavors across the community. He was also recognized with the 1995 Archdiocesan Medal of Honor. He ran the St. Jane Frances blood drive for over 14 years earning the church an award for most pints collected. A fine woodworker, Joe built whatever the church needed, from the Nativity scene at Christmas to the signs and placards used around the church. He also sponsored the Living Rosary, which he made, at St. Jane Frances elementary school.

In addition to Hilda, his loving wife of nearly 55 years, Joe is survived by his eldest daughter, Kathy
Brown of Pasadena and his youngest daughter and son-in-law, Patty and Dave Voigt of Millersville; and his five grandchildren, Eric, Justin, Adam Brown and Erin and Katie Voigt.

Family requests friends visit on Wednesday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 PM at the Gregory J. Gonce Funeral Home, 169 Riviera Drive, Pasadena. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, 18 October 2012 at 10 AM in St. Jane Frances Catholic Church, 8499 Virginia Avenue, Riviera Beach, MD 21122-3097. Burial will follow at Glen Haven Memorial Park in Glen Burnie, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The American Heart Association at https://donate.americanheart.org/ or the American Diabetes
Association www.diabetes.org/ You may express your condolences here as well.

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