Obituary of Joseph L. Keefe

Joseph L. Keefe, Sr. Age 75, of Elmira, passed away on Thursday, June 17, 2010 at the Chemung County Nursing Facility. Joe was born March 31, 1935, son of the late John J., Jr., and Elizabeth (Sullivan) Keefe. Joe is survived by his loving family, his wife Priscilla "Percy" Williams Keefe, with whom he would have celebrated 50 years of marriage in October; children, with their families, Joseph L., Jr. and Karen Keefe of East Homer, NY, with children, Shawn and Shannan; Elizabeth and David Osborn of East Syracuse, NY, with son Ryan; Sarah and Robert Sandore of Rome, NY. Also surviving are his siblings, with their spouses, John J. "Jack", III and Bonnie Keefe of Elmira, Catherine K. "Katie" and Richard Hughes of Elmira, Michael F. and Sharon Keefe of Las Vegas, NV, Mary Elizabeth and Dennis Wolfe of Elmira; sister-in-law Ann O'Connell of Melbourne, FL; along with several nieces and nephews. Joe was a U S Army veteran serving his country during the Korean Conflict. He was the former owner and operator of Keefe Restaurant on West Miller Street, selling it in 1978. Joe then went to work for the City of Elmira from where he retired. He was a member and past president of the Msgr. John J. Lee Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, 2nd degree member of the Elmira Council #229 Knights of Columbus, member of the American Legion Post #1208 in Wayne, NY, member of the Elmira Elks Lodge #62, and a long time communicant of St. Mary's Church, Elmira. The "ultimate" Irishman, Joe was a devout Catholic, and after his family, his great love was spending time with his fellow Hibernians at the A.O.H. Club. Friends are invited to McInerny Funeral Home, corner of Water and Walnut Sts., on Sunday, June 20, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home on Monday, June 21, 2010 at 8:45 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary's Church, Elmira at 9:30 a.m. Interment, with military honors, will follow at St. Peter & Paul's Cemetery. Those wishing may remember Joe with a donation to the Hibernian Building Fund, 701 Kinyon Street, Elmira NY 14904. Officers and member of the Msgr. John J. Lee Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians will meet at McInerny Funeral Home, Sunday, June 20th at 1:45 p.m. to conduct a prayer service for our brother Joe. Signed, Tom Corcoran, President