Joseph DiTusa of South Jamesport died on October 11, 2017. He was 96 years old.
He was born on March 10, 1921 in Manhattan to Moresta (nee Morelli) and Salvatore DiTusa and was a graduate of Bryant High School. He was raised in Corona, New York from the 1930s up to World War II when he and his brothers all answered the call to military service.
During his time in the military he served with the U.S. Coast Guard from 1941 to 1945 as a boatswain and patrolled the East Coast of the United States from Peru to Greenland for submarines.
After his service, he married Madeline Behrens in 1945. They went on to move to Huntington in 1956 and eventually made their home in South Jamesport in 1985. Together they had three children.
Joseph was part of a big Italian family in Queens and Nassau County. He was also the proud owner of two businesses: Watch Dial Refinishing from 1949 to 1981, then established Jamesport Hardware in 1981 where he worked alongside his two sons Rich and Bob.
Locally, he was a member and usher at Our Lady of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Church.
Predeceased by his wife Madeline in 2005, he is survived by his children, Rich, Bob and Sue and his grandchildren, Lianne, Tom, Mike and Jimmy.
The family received friends on Thursday, October 12 at the DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. The Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, October 14 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Church in Mattituck, officiated by Monsignor Joseph W. Staudt. Interment followed at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Cemetery in Cutchogue.
In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be appreciated.
