Joseph M. Kay, 97, died Thursday, November 13, at Berkshire Medical Center. He was born May 24, 1928, the youngest of nine children to Stanley and Rozalia Horonzy “Kijek” Kay. Raised on the family dairy farm on North Plain Road, he attended the one-room school house on North Plain Road, Dewey School, and Searles High School. He earned his GED high school diploma in 1973.
As a youth, Joe worked on the family farm, as a soda jerk at Yurkee’s diner, as an usher at Mahaiwe Theater, and as a pin setter at the Bowlero. He played baseball on the Great Barrington AA team. Following a summer in the Massachusetts State Guard, Joe served in the United States Marine Corps from November 1945 to August 1948 performing post-World War II occupation duty in Miyazaki Japan and two years in Tsingtao China as part of a peacekeeping force during the Chinese Civil War. Upon his return to the United States, he worked as temporary helper on the Massachusetts State Highway Department’s Sheffield branch. Mr. Kay was called back to active duty at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina from September 1950 to September 1951.
Prior to his call back, he met and fell in love with his adored Cecelia “Cece” Small. Joe and Cece were united in the sacrament of holy matrimony on May 12, 1951, at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Sheffield and spent 72 years together until her passing in August 2023.
A journeyman electrician in the building trades, Joe apprenticed for his brother-in-law and then spent the balance of his career as a member of Local 284 Pittsfield (now Local 7 Springfield) of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Joe was a life member of the Great Barrington James A. Modolo Post 8348 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a longtime participant in the Housatonic Adams-Budz Post 8183 VFW Honor Guard. He was a member of the Mount Everett Council 513 and the Bishop Conaty Fourth Degree Assembly of the Knights of Columbus.
A communicant of St. Peter’s Church, Joe was a constant contributor of time talent and treasure to the parish. He was the very first Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist installed at the parish in 1972. He served for many years on the Parish Council and the building committee and participated in or led many building improvement and fundraising efforts. A passionate advocate for the unborn, Joe was a longtime member of the Massachusetts Citizens for Life North Adams Chapter.
In retirement, Joe enjoyed playing golf at Wyantenuck Country Club, especially with the Sunday Morning “Polish Open” group and in the annual St. Peter golf fundraiser. He enjoyed time spent with family and friends. Since Cece’s passing, he was a regular at the Great Barrington Claire Teague Senior Center, enjoying the activities (July 2024 Cornhole co-Champion) and social atmosphere. He was also a member of the American Accordionists Association.
Besides his father, Joe was predeceased by his mother Rozalia, who died the same day he was born; his sisters, Bessie Baldyga, Sadie Stomski Miller, Regina Makarski Pothul, and Alessandra Czajkowski; three brothers, Stanley, Chester, and Aleksander; his wife Cecelia, who died August 28, 2023; and two sons, Herbert W. Kay, who died at age 14 as the result of an automobile accident in Sheffield on June 8, 1974, and Joseph M.(Patricia) Kay Jr., who died December 31, 2021, at his home in Framingham, Mass.
Joe is survived by his brother Edward Kay of Great Barrington; two daughters, Elizabeth J. (Lee) Buck of Prescott Arizona and Mary C. Clark of Great Barrington; his son Stanley J. (Rebecca) Kay of Housatonic; nine grandchildren, William (Nicole) Buck, Andrew (Miriam) Buck, Joan (David) Montague, Ashleigh Kay, Kaitlyn Kay, Aleksander Kay, Gregory Kay, Peter Kay, and Serenity Kay; four great-grandchildren, Luciana Buck, Emilia Buck, Ava Buck, and Ario Buck; and several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be Sunday, November 23, from 2 to 4 p.m., and on Monday, November 24, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., at the Birches-Roy Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements. A Liturgy of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev William P. Murphy will be at St. Peter’s Church at 10 a.m. on Monday, November 24. Burial with Military Honors conducted by the Adams-Budz Post 8183 Honor Guard will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the St. Peter Building Restoration Fund and the Claire Teague Senior Center in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be made through the funeral home’s website.
