Joseph F. Kracunas

Joseph F. Kracunas, of Braintree, formerly of South Boston, passed away peacefully at the Pat Roche Hospice home in Hingham surrounded by his loving family on August 25, 2022, at the age of 96.  Beloved husband of Helen Kracunas (Uzdavinis) of Braintree.  Loving father of Joseph Jr. and his wife Deborah of Topsfield, Edward and his wife Annmarie of Hingham, the late Christine and her husband David of Norwell, and Richard and his wife Belinda of Cohasset.  Devoted brother of the late Bernard and his late wife Mary of North Palm Beach, FL, adored son of the late Frances (Lakus) and John Kracunas of South Boston.  Cherished Grandpa of Patrick, Alison, Elizabeth, Caroline, Stephen, Julia, Christopher, Maria, Ava and John. Joseph is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Joe was born, raised, and educated in South Boston.  He graduated from South Boston High School in 1943 while the U.S. was embroiled in World War II.  Because he was unable to enlist due to physical limitations, Joe began his work career at age 16 and made his contribution to the war effort as an apprentice at the Hingham Shipyard.  When the war ended, Joe moved on to a machinist position with water meter manufacturer Hersey Products Inc. of South Boston, where he met the love of his life Helen in 1949.  This was the beginning of a storybook romance cruising the streets of South Boston in his first car, a Pontiac aka ‘The Blue Bomber’ as it was known amongst friends.  They married in 1954 and moved into their newly built home in Braintree where he resided for 68 years.

Joe was a man of great faith, an altar boy as a child at St. Peter’s Lithuanian church in South Boston and a devout parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi throughout his adult life. 

A tireless, well respected experimental R & D machinist who led by example until retiring at the age of 70, he worked for Hersey Products, Joseph Pollak Engineered Products, and his favorite employer Haemonetics who he referred to as his calling. 

For Joe family meant everything and he was often found driving to early morning hockey practices, travelling to Florida and Alabama to visit relatives and his children, attending baseball games in Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and Massachusetts, Christmas Boston Pops concerts with Helen, numerous school functions, plus ensuring his family always headed to Ossipee Lake, NH for summer memories.  He will be missed by everyone whose lives he touched. 

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Wednesday, August 31st from 4-8 pm in the McMaster Funeral Home, 86 Franklin Street (Rt. 37), Braintree.  A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, September 1st, at 10 am in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 856 Washington St., Braintree.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Norwell Visiting Nurse Association (NVNA) and Hospice, Home Healthcare & Hospice Services in Norwell, MA | NVNA  in memory of Joseph to support continued elderly patient care.

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