Joseph P. Birish
Joseph P. Birish of Goshen passed away Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, at The Valley View Center for Nursing Care and Rehabilitation in Goshen. He was 93 and a lifelong resident of the area.
Son of Paul and Susan Chanko Birish, he was born April 27, 1918, in Tuxedo. Joseph was the widower of Beatrice Smith Birish.
Joseph, one of nine children, was a retired laborer with Union Carbide Corp. of Sterling Forest. He was an Army Air Force veteran of World War II who served in the Pacific Theater in a B-29, 17 Group on Tinian Island in the Pacific. He also was a member of the Tuxedo Fire Department.
Joseph enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, gardening and was a proficient golfer who represented the Tuxedo Fire Department, winning many tournaments.
Survivors include his three sons: Michael of Tuxedo, William of Suffern and James of Goshen; his sisters Helen Guntsch of Warwick, Mary Doolittle of New Jersey and Frances Zielinski of Mahwah, N.J.; five grandchildren six great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Joseph was predeceased by his wife Beatrice, his son Joseph, daughter Beatrice Kimmenau, brothers Major, Michael, John and George and his sister Susan Retz.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17, at Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush, Inc. Funeral Home, 117 Maple Ave., Monroe. A grave side service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, in St. Anastasia Cemetery in Harriman with Deacon Brian ONeill officiating.
For more information, call the funeral home at 845-782-8185 or visit online at www.ssqfuneralhome.com.