Obituary of Joseph Mencel Sr.

Joseph W. Mencel Sr., age 100, of Bridgeport, beloved husband of Eleanor Aprile Mencel, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, in the comfort of his home surrounded by his loving family. Born in Bridgeport on March 23, 1925, he was a son of the late Andrew and Katherine Kotrady Mencel and the second youngest of 12 children.

Joe was a WW2 U.S. Navy veteran and lifelong Bridgeport resident. He worked for GE for a short time before and after the war then became a Pumper Engineer for the City of Bridgeport Fire Department for 30 years. After his retirement, he worked into his 80's as a self-employed carpenter, a trade that he loved.

Joe spoke often of the hardships growing up in Bridgeport at a young age during the Great Depression. He was proud of his military service and always wore his WW2 hat in public which sparked many friendly conversations. He spoke fondly of the good times after the war and dancing the night away in the many downtown dance halls. His children and their extended families were everything to him. His favorite place was his summer cabin on Lake Zoar where all his troubles would fade away, a great rural gathering place for the family. He was devoted to his wife Eleanor whom he cared for in the last years of his life. He enjoyed Sunday Mass and looked forward to Sunday dinners with the family. When asked the secret to such a long good life, his response was always, "I wake up every day with a purpose."

In addition to his beloved wife of 73 years, Eleanor, survivors include his three loving children, Joe W. Mencel Jr. and his wife Jill; Jimmy Mencel and his wife Liz; Kathy Garasimowicz and her husband Paul; six cherished grandchildren, Anya, Alec, Andrew, Paul, Patrick and Elizabeth, four adored great grandchildren, Jet, Sage, River and Maizy, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his 13 brothers and sisters.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. directly in St. Catherine of Siena Church, 200 Shelton Road Trumbull. Interment will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Stratford. Relatives and friends may greet the family on Monday from 4 – 7 p.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the West Haven Veterans Museum and Learning Center, 30 Hood Terrace, West Haven, CT 06515 or at www.whmilmuseum.org. To leave an online condolence please visit www.abriola.com.