Joseph Thomas Finn

Joseph Thomas Finn passed away at his home on Sunday evening, September 18, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary, their children Karen Juliano (Paul), Erin Saraceni (Raymond), and Joseph (Brenda), and their grandchildren Marykate, Patrick Joseph, Michael Joseph, and Jack Thomas. Joe is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law Alice and Ray Ott, his sisters-in-law Joan Finn and Cathy Peckne, and many loving nieces and nephews. Joe was born the fifth of seven children to Thomas and Mary Finn in Ashley, Pennsylvania and is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Thomas, Jerome, and Charles, his sisters Mary Reddy and Mercedes O'Dea, and his niece Moira Smith. Joe spent his childhood in Ashley where he attended St. Leo's Catholic School, delivered milk with his father, and enjoyed being part of a big family. After his parents moved to Philadelphia, Joe finished high school as a member of the first graduating class of Cardinal Dougherty High School, class of 1959. After high school, Joe attended King's College for one year before joining his sisters in Brooklyn, NY where he took a job with the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). In 1962, Joe entered the Army where he served his country in Germany until 1964. After his honorable discharge from the Army, Joe returned to Brooklyn, New York, where he resumed his career in broadcasting, returning to CBS and then moving to the New York Public Media (Channel 13) where he was instrumental in airing the famous chess match between American Bobby Fischer and Soviet Boris Spassky. Joe liked to recall how it was the first (and maybe only) time a public television channel was playing on TVs throughout the bars and taverns of New York City. During this period, Joe began dating Mary Ann Curley of Ashley, Pennsylvania. He had delivered milk to her doorstep as a young boy, took her to her senior prom at St. Leo's, and then - as he liked to say - "wore out three cars" between Brooklyn and Ashley to see her each weekend. Joe and Mary married on February 17, 1968 at St. Leo's Catholic Church, honeymooned in Florida, and set up their home in Brooklyn, where they had their two girls Karen in 1969 and Erin Marie in 1970. Joe and Mary moved the family to Jackson, New Jersey in 1971 where they had their son Joseph in 1972. After more than a decade in broadcasting, Joe decided that he wanted to pursue a career as a business owner and, in 1976, he and Mary moved the family to Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania where his mother and father lived and ran a news agency. Upon his arrival in Bloomsburg, Joe expanded the wholesale newspaper distribution business started by his parents and he and Mary opened Finn’s News Stand on Main Street where they joined a thriving community of downtown businesses. In 2014, Joe and Mary wrote in their retirement notice “Our joy in serving the Bloomsburg community cannot be overstated - as a business we relied on your patronage but found the gift of your friendship our greatest reward. Thank you for not only providing us with a means to support our family, but for providing a wonderful community in which to raise our children.” With this, Joe concluded his 38-year run as proprietor of Finn’s News Stand - a rewarding and enjoyable career. During Joe's years in Bloomsburg, he also contributed to his community - he was very involved in St. Columba Catholic School where his children attended, was an active member of St. Columba Church, delivered Meals on Wheels, and was a charter member and the founding president of the Bloomsburg Lions Club where he was honored with the Pa. Fellow Lions award. Joe and Mary also had several wonderful opportunities to travel with groups from their parish to Ireland, Rome, and the Grand Canyon where they made many lasting friendships. Throughout all of Joe’s life-endeavors, he was guided by optimism, integrity, empathy, and a deep abiding love of his wife and family. Being a husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend brought him tremendous joy and he loved nothing more than being with his family and friends, especially if there was an occasion to sing a few songs together. A time of visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, September 22, 2022 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Allen Funeral Home, Inc., 745 Market at Eighth Street, Bloomsburg. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 6:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be concelebrated on Friday, September 23, 2022 at 11:00 am at St. Columba Catholic Church, 342 Iron Street, Bloomsburg with Rev. Richard J. Mowery and Monsignor Robert E. Lawrence. Graveside committal services will immediately follow in New Rosemont Cemetery, Bloomsburg, with military honors provided by the combined V.F.W. and American Legion Honor Guard. The Allen Funeral Home, Inc., is honored to be serving the Finn family (www.Allen-FuneralHome.com). Memorial contributions in Joe's name are suggested to: St. Columba Catholic School (https://www.saintcolumbaschool.org/Resources/Donate).

Joseph Thomas Finn

August 23, 1940 - September 18, 2022