Joseph S. Koczela, 90

ADAMS, Mass. — Mr. Joseph S Koczela, 90, of Lenox, a native and longtime resident of Adams, died Sunday evening, April 16, 2023 at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.

He leaves his loving wife of 59 years, Beverly Tash Koczela, and three daughters: Diane Koczela and her husband Christian Brisson of Little Torch Key, FL; Lisa Provost and her husband Jon, of Adams; and Jennifer Ceccarelli and her husband Bruno, of Danville, CA; one son, Michael Koczela and his wife Rebecca of Cheshire. He was Grandpa or Grandpa Joe to 10 grandchildren, including Nicholas Brisson, Marcus Brisson, Jonathan Provost and his wife Meghan, Joshua Provost, Elizabeth Provost, Matthew Provost and his wife Emilie, Julianna Ceccarelli, Gabriella Ceccarelli, Hanna Koczela, Aidan Koczela and grandson-in-law Craig Crouthamel. He was a new great grandpa to Victor Joseph Crouthamel. He was predeceased by two granddaughters, Chantal Brisson and Victoria Crouthamel; seven brothers, including Thaddeus, Paul, Fred, Stephen, Stanley, Edward and Frank Koczela; and by a sister, Stephanie Koczela.

He was born in Adams on January 18, 1933, a son of the late Ignatius and Mary (Boryczka) Koczela. He attended Adams schools and graduated from the former Adams High School with the Class of 1950, where he was co-captain of the Berkshire County and Western Mass. championship basketball team that played in the State Championship Tournament at Boston Garden in March of 1950. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1961 from UMass-Amherst, where he excelled at basketball and played semi-professional ball. He was a Veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving with the US Army from 1953 until his Honorable Discharge as a Sergeant in 1955.

Joseph met Beverly at the wedding stag and shower of her sister in October 1962 and fell in love with her from the moment he saw her. They were married the following year on July 4, 1963. He devoted his life to being a wonderful husband and loving father. His favorite past time was being with family and glowing in the celebration of their life events which often meant attending religious ceremonies, educational achievements, sporting events and theater productions.

Mr. Koczela worked as the full-time assessor for the Town of Adams, appointed by the Board of Selectmen in January of 1983 and serving in that post until retiring in 2002. Earlier, he had worked as personnel director and comptroller of the former Adams Supermarket Corp. and at General Electric Co. in Pittsfield and Sprague Electric in North Adams. He was a communicant of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Adams, and was a member of the St. Stanislaus Kostka Society and Forest Park Country Club.

The funeral will be held on Saturday, Apr. 22nd at 9:30 AM from the PACIOREK FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St. Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Adams. Burial will follow in Bellevue Cemetery, Adams. Calling hours are Friday from 5 to 7 PM at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to a trust fund for the benefit of Joseph’s new great grandson Victor by making checks payable to Pershing LLC and including QL1010030 in the memo line; or to Adams Post 160 American Legion, through the funeral home. To leave a message of condolence, or for directions, please go online to www.paciorekfuneral.com