Remembering the life of Joseph Donohue, Jr. (2024)

Machesney Park, - Joseph "Joey" Bernard Donohue, Jr., age 64 and a native of Lawrence, MA, passed away on July 5, 2024, at his home in Machesney Park, Illinois with Jesus by his side. While Joseph was valiantly battling several chronic illnesses, his sudden death still came unexpectedly and way too soon. Joey, as he preferred to be addressed, was born on December 29, 1959 in Methuen, MA to Joseph and Rosalie (Pekarski) Donohue. He was a proud 1977 graduate of Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, MA. After attending Northeastern University and then working at Raytheon and Western Electric, Joey eventually became a loyal U.S. Postal service employee, where he served for over 25 years before retiring.
Joey was an incredible and talented athlete. While growing up, he cherished his Sunday mornings when he routinely played ball with his father and brother, Mike and talked about those memories often. He played four years of baseball at CCHS and was captain of the team his senior year. He also played football and was a force to be reckoned with. Furthermore, he played for the Lawrence American Legion baseball team. After high school, Joey got involved in power lifting, which became a passion in his life. He won various championships and was most proud of his 1984 first place finish in the National Bench Press competition for the 2751b Division. Once he reached his goal in powerlifting, Joey shifted his focus to the martial arts, pushing himself until he received his first-degree black belt in Tae Kwan Do. He loved the Zen philosophy of the martial arts and practiced that mindset daily.
Anyone who met Joey could not soon forget him. He was the life of the party and his sense of humor and unique personality were legendary. Stories involving "Joey D" will be told in bars and around kitchen tables in Lawrence for generations to come. When one fondly remembers Joey, the following philosophy would apply: "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways proclaiming holy s***, what a ride!" Joey especially loved the ocean, fast cars, guns, sports (especially the Patriots), classic rock, family, friends and most importantly, Jesus.
He was deeply dedicated to helping those struggling with addictions of any type and was a proud member of AA. He surely saved more than one life with his
I support and words of wisdom and he genuinely prayed for all alcoholics and addicts on a daily basis.
While Joey seemed larger than life with his stories and experiences, his greatest attribute of all was his beautiful, kind, gentle, humble soul. He was everybody's friend. Knowing or even meeting Joey made one's life better. Words cannot describe the love in his heart.
Joey's surviving family all live in the surrounding area and include his children Meaghan and Ryan Donohue, sister Maureen and her husband Joseph Forzese, brother Michael Donohue, niece Karissa Forzese, nephew Michael Donohue and his wife Stephanie, great niece Madison Donohue, Aunt Marie Pekarski and multiple cousins. He also leaves behind his loving "adopted" family in Illinois, Barbara and Tessa Rose and his "grandson" Shaun Joseph, also his namesake. His passing leaves us all with cherished memories and a deep void that can never be filled.
Joey was preceded in death by his mother Rosalie (in whose arms he is surely at peace after losing her when he was only seven days old), his father Joseph, stepmother Phyllis, infant sister Mary (twin of sister Maureen), Grandfather William Pekarski and special Aunts Mary and Bernice Pekarski who helped to raise him, special cousin Christopher Pekarski and many other relatives and friends that he is surely joyously reunited with in Heaven. This list would not be complete without mentioning Joey's beloved cat, Buddy, who was surely waiting for him at the Rainbow Bridge.
A cemetery service and burial of Joey's cremated remains will be held on Friday, July 26 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Cemetery in Lawrence, MA.
Good bye for now dear, sweet Joey.
As you always liked to say: I WILL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE ! !

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Published on July 22, 2024