Joseph Podeszwa

Joseph Casimir Podeszwa of Averill Park, New York, passed away on November 27, 2015, at the age of 87. He was born in Yonkers, New York to Joseph and Angeline Podeswa. He was the eldest of three children, predeceased by his parents and his wife, Betty Pedersen Podeszwa. Joe is survived by his wife Patricia and his daughters, Donna Gedeon and Karen Hotaling, and his beloved grandchildren, Justin and Taylor Gedeon. He is also survived by his wife's daughters, Linda Huelle, Patricia McDevitt, Caroline Senich (Joseph) and Kathleen (Joseph) Durand, and several grandchildren. Joe is also survived by his siblings, Carol Hrabsky (Paul) of Yonkers, and Lynne Walter (Robert) of Villas, NJ, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Joe grew up in the Nodine Hill section of Yonkers where he graduated from Yonkers High School in 1946. Joe attended the American Institute of Banking and began working for the Crestwood Savings Bank in Tuckahoe. Ever a lover of the sea, Joe joined the U.S. Naval Reserves and was called into active duty during the Korean War. Inspired by his father who was a longtime Yonkers City Policeman, Joe joined the New York State Troopers in 1952. He served at a number of posts, but his favorite was patrolling the open road. During his last few years of service, Joe was involved in communications at Troop G, Loudonville. He retired in 1972 after 20 years of service. Joe was a lifelong member of the NYS Trooper's Police Benevolent Association.

While a Trooper, Joe had attended Hudson Valley Community College during the evenings and attained an Accounting Diploma. Following his retirement from the State Police, Joe returned to banking for several years with Union State Bank in Troy. After several years, the call to return to police work was strong, and he was hired by Amtrak Police in Rensselaer. When that position was abolished, Joe found employment as a security guard with Altech Specialty Steel Corp. in Watervliet. Several years later, he worked as a Lieutenant Security Guard with Pinkerton Security Services in Albany, rising to the position of Security Guard instructor, from which he eventually retired.

Joe was a communicant of St. Henry's Church in Averill Park for many years where he was a Eucharistic minister and former Treasurer of the Parish. He served in several other positions and worked tirelessly for many years as a volunteer for St. Henry's. Joe was a member of the Knights of Columbus-Council 10990 of his home parish where he was former Grand Knight.

Joe's family extends a heartfelt thank you to the Sand Lake EMT's and the Samaritan Hospital ER and PCU staff for their never-ending support, as well as to Community Hospice, Doctor Miller and Robin Connolly, NP, which provided exceptional care and commitment in Joe's final hours. Special thanks to Dad's personal care home aides, Roberta, Roberta, Jr. and Jade without whose loving care Dad's final wish to remain at home would not have been possible.

Joe was a dedicated family man, a man of honor, and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Visitation will be on Monday, November 30th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at St. Henry's Church, 39 Old Route 66, Averill Park, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 1st at 10:30 am at St. Henry's Church. Burial will follow at St. Henry's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Joe's memory to Community Hospice, 295 Valley View Boulevard, Rensselaer, NY 12144. Please visit Joe's everlasting book of memories at www.mcloughlinmason.com.