Joseph Thakadiyel (79 years), a loving husband, father of two, and grandfather of three, passed away in Pelham, NY on Wednesday, January 27th, 2021. Joseph was born on May 2nd, 1941 in Kottayam, India to Anna and Chacko Thakadiyel. He was an accomplished high school English teacher in Ahmedabad, India. On June 4th, 1969, he married Marykutty Chemmacheril. Being a progressive man, he encouraged his wife to study further and directed her to teaching profession. Together, they raised two children, Jyoti and James and provided good education, comfort, and values to them.

Joseph was a God-fearing man and loved all those he interacted with. Anyone who met him, felt his love and walked away with peace. Relatives and friends loved to visit his family because he was always very hospitable and welcoming. He always looked after other people’s comfort and wellbeing over his. His students and friends loved him for his sense of humor and pleasant conduct. His children remember the house as full of love and laughter where he gave respect and top priority to his wife’s wishes and treated her family also as his own. Not only this, but he also had a passion for writing stories, poetry, especially religious songs. He was a soccer player in his school days and an orator in his youth

After his retirement, when he came to America, he took great care of his grandchildren Angela and Albert. For years, he would come to his daughter’s house every morning, before she went to work, to be with his grandchildren. He took his grandkids to school and participated with them in all their school activities. He was a friend like father and grandfather to his children and grandchildren. The grandchildren have no memory of him ever getting irritated or angry with them. Instead he had the capacity to make them feel better if they were upset and to patiently explain things to them.

Joseph was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Mathew, Abraham, Jacob, and sisters Pennama, Chinnama, and Thankama. He is survived by his wife, Marykutty, two children, Jyoti and James, son in law Suresh, daughter in law Suman, grandchildren Angela, Albert and Judith, his siblings Thomachan, Stephen, Thresiamma, and George, along with several cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Joseph’s life will take place at Pelham Funeral Home on February 1, 2021 from 9AM to 10:30 AM, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Pelham Manor, NY.

Burial will take place at Beechwood Cemetery New Rochelle, NY, on February 1, 2021.

Editor’s note: This obituary was provided by the Pelham Funeral Home.