Obituary of Joseph Pyska

Joseph Pyska, age 85 of Clifton Park, joined his wife of 55 years, Patricia M. Pyska in Heaven on March 16, 2015. Born on October 24, 1929, in Cohoes, he is the son of the late Joseph and Mary Pyska. He is also predeceased by his grandson Patrick Murphy and sister, Helen Lasorischak. He lived most of his life in Clifton Park. He valued the rewards of hard work, and worked numerous jobs in his youth. He learned to drive while farming, worked in a bakery, was a trapper and worked at the drive in. He joined the Air Force in 1948 and served until 1952 as a mechanical instructor on B-52 bombers. He had a successful career with GE in Schenectady in the turbine division. He was a member of the American Legion Post 1450. Joe loved to bowl, was an avid history buff, a diehard Red Sox fan and a huge Marilyn Monroe admirer. He was a gentle man with a quick wit and a dry sense of humor. He touched our lives and our hearts and he will never be forgotten. He is survived by his daughters Donna (Lloyd) Bishop, Karen (Robert) Murphy, Janet (Curtis) Coons, and Patti (Scott) Clark, his only son, Joseph (Vickie) Pyska, his 14 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his beloved cat, Milo. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, from 4 to 8 pm at Catricala Funeral Home Inc., 1597 Route 9, Clifton Park. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday at 9 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Crescent. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Waterford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Boys Town at http://www.boystown.org/support, or to St. Jude’s Hospital at http://www.stjude.org.