Joseph J. Swekla

Joseph J. Swekla, 89, a native and lifelong Nashua resident, died Saturday afternoon, November 23, 2013 at Greenbriar Terrace Healthcare in Nashua after a period of declining health.

A son of the late Ambrose and Lena (Marchenavich) Swekla, he was born here on September 28, 1924. Educated in local schools, Joe was a graduate of Nashua High School and furthered his education at the University of New Hampshire where earned a bachelor’s degree with the graduating class of 1948. During his years at UNH, Mr. Swekla played on the Wildcats baseball and football teams.

Mr. Swekla was employed with The Bronze Craft Corporation of Nashua as a machinist for a number of years. Earlier in his career, Joe had worked for the former H.W. Scott & Son builders.

Joe married Rose Gaides also a Nashua native on April 15, 1950. They loved traveling together visiting Alaska and Hawaii and several countries including China, Russia and Panama. Mrs. Swekla passed away on February 13, 2006 after sharing nearly 56 years of marriage.

Mr. Swekla was a communicant of St. Patrick Church and the former St. Casimir Church. He and his wife were members of the St. Casimir Couples Club for many years. In his younger years, Joe also enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Members of his family include two nieces and nephews, Roseann Livingston and Donald Morrison and his wife Mary Ann all of Merrimack, Pat Brown of Arizona and David Swekla of West Brookfield, MA; grandnieces and grandnephews, Kyle Morrison, Stephanie Fowle, Melissa Boudreau, Jefrey Livingston, Holly Netto, Laurie Brown and Shirley Nickerson; and a sister-in-law, Lee Swekla of Gloucester, MA. In addition to his wife and parents, Joe was predeceased by his brother, Alphonse Swekla, who died in 2012.

SERVICES: There are no calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Patrick Church, 29 Spring Street, Nashua, Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. followed interment at Holy Cross Cemetery in Hudson. Family and friends are invited to attend and will gather at the church.

Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua. (603) 882-0591. www.farwellfuneral.com.