Obituaries
Obituary: Joseph D. Rockwood
Rockwood, 92, of Taunton, formerly of Rehoboth, Norton and Mansfield, passed away Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012.
Joseph D. Rockwood, 92, of Taunton, formerly of Rehoboth, Norton and Mansfield, passed away Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012 at Morton Hospital in Taunton.
He was the husband of the late Rita M. (Cintioni) Rockwood. They got married Nov. 16, 1943.
Born in Worcester on Dec. 18, 1919, he was son of the late David C. and Anna (Stafinski) Rockwood.
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Mr. Rockwood grew up in Worcester and in the Roxbury section of Boston. He attended Mechanical Arts High School in Boston.
During WWII, he served his country in the United States Army Air Corps and was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of Sergeant.
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A retired truck driver, Mr. Rockwood was employed at the Old Colony Packing Co. in Boston prior to retiring in 1979. He formerly worked as a chef for 12 years at Durgin Park in Boston.
When Joseph was younger, he was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corp and also enjoyed making model aircrafts. He was very proud to have known that his ancestry dated back to members of the Rockwood family being founders of Harvard University.
A former communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Mansfield, Mr. Rockwood was a longtime member of the National Rifle Association and the Gun Owners Action League. He was also a member of the DAV and was a former member of the Mansfield VFW.
He is survived by his daughters Sandra Ruscetta and her husband Anthony of Rehoboth and Jirina Riley of Taunton; his grandchildren Kimberly Gero, Kristine O’Leary and Jeffrey Ruscetta; and his great-grandchildren Megan Ruscetta, Lindsay Ruscetta, Nicholas Ruscetta, Mackenzie O’Leary and Cameron O’Leary. He was pre-deceased by his brother Richard J. Rockwood and sister Elizabeth Giapetti.
Services and burial were held privately and visiting hours have been omitted.
Contributions in Joseph’s memory may be made to the Rehoboth Office of Veterans Affairs, 148 Peck St., Rehoboth, MA 02769.
Arrangements were under the care and direction of the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main St., Mansfield.
For additional information visit www.shermanjackson.com.
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