Joseph W. Giffune Jr.

Joseph William Giffune Jr. (Bill) , 81, passed away on March 12, 2023 in Falmouth Maine. Bill was born in Utica, New York on January 10, 1942 to Joseph W. Giffune, Sr.
and Mary Josephine DiNegro Giffune. He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Kathleen Grasso Giffune, who grew up in Elmira, New York, and their only child Michelle Marie Giffune, who passed away in July of 2020.

Bill graduated from Hendy Avenue Elementary School and from Elmira Free Academy in1959 where he played baseball and was on the football team: he was proud to recall that he played alongside Ernie Davis, at EFA.

Bill graduated from Alfred University with a degree in Ceramic Engineering, and went to work in the automobile industry at various levels in Buffalo, N.Y. Detroit, MI. and Chicago, IL., ultimately retiring from Jernberg Industries Inc. where he was Vice President of Engineering and part owner of that company.

Bill was a true “renaissance” man, having many interests and pursuits: beekeeping, pottery, gardening, boating, hunting, and fishing: he played hockey for many years on a Chicago area team named the “Duffers”, where his mischievous fun-loving personality will be sadly missed by his “Hockey Family”, who held a memorial for him on St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago.

Bill and his wife, Kate traveled extensively, visiting Japan, the Great Wall of China, and sailing in the Bahamas.

Bill is survived by his two brothers, Jim of New Gloucester, ME. and Paul of Stuart, FL.,
their wives Mary Ellen Giffune and Eva Giffune, sisters and brothers in-law from the Grasso family of Elmira N.Y., and many nieces and nephews in Maine, Florida, Massachusetts, and the Elmira Area. Bill will be sadly missed and joyfully remembered by all who knew and loved him.

Bill’s family extend their deep gratitude to his caregivers at Sedgewood Commons in Falmouth, ME. where Bill resided for the past two years, and was loved and cared for, above and beyond the call of duty. THANK YOU

Lastly to Greg Lopatka and his family who adopted Bill, and without whom the complicated process of long distance care would have been impossible: Our sincere and long term gratitude.

Visitation will be at the Olthof Funeral Home at 1050 Pennsylvania Ave in Elmira N.Y. between 6:00 and 8:00 pm on April 13, 2023 followed by a brief service at 8:00 pm. Interment will be at 11:00 at ST. Peter and Paul's Cemetery on April 14,2023.