Online Obituaries

Joseph Michael Patrick McNerney, father, grandfather, construction supervisor, and Veteran, died at his son’s home surrounded by his family on September 8th at the age of 91. He was the last surviving of eight children of the late James Norton and Mary (Donnelly) McNerney of Chicopee, MA. He grew up sharing a very small apartment in Chicopee with ten members of his family. At 19, he joined the Navy with his lifelong friend, Harold (Benny) Bernard and was stationed in Guam during the Korean war. Returning home Joe met the love of his life, Patricia Elizabeth Shea. They were married August 10, 1957.  His devotion to his wife prompted him to retire from his long construction career to take care of her in the last stages of early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Pat died December 10, 1998.

This strength of character, body and mind permeated his life as did his humor. Joe felt as comfortable jumping into a trench with co-workers as he did delighting his children by skipping to church or by driving around the Chicopee rotary 5 times.

Joe is survived by his son, Michael of Agawam, MA, daughter, Christine Gendron and her husband James of Agawam MA, son, Gary and his wife Barbara of Granby, MA, daughter Trisha Hibbert and her husband Craig of Nashville, TN.  Joe adored his grandchildren Kyle McNerney, Jena McNerney, Emily Gendron-DiCarlo and her husband Nick, Sam Gendron, Alex Gendron and his wife Chiara, Leah Hibbert and Kaley Hibbert. He also leaves four sisters-in-law, Eleanor McNerney of Springfield, MA, Barbara Shea, Mary Anischik and Jean Bushey, all of Chicopee, MA, and many nieces and nephews.

Joe loved the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, gambling at the casino, going out to dinner, laughing, his family, his friends, clowning around with his 7 grandchildren and life.  His tenacity, strength and humor will forever be as much missed as they were and are an inspiration.

Calling hours will be held at Cierpial Memorial Funeral Home, 69 East Street, Chicopee MA from 9:00am to 11:00am Wednesday, September 14th. A short service at the funeral home will be held at 11:00am with burial immediately following at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Chicopee, MA. Memorial donations can be made to The American Lung Association, 393 Maple St., Springfield, MA 01105 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Rd..Waltham, MA 02452.