Joseph H. Cravatas Jr., 83, of Pope St. Salem, died Sunday,
Sept. 13, 2009 at the Blueberry Hill Nuring Home, Beverly after a brief
illness. He was the husband of the late
Jeannette (Levesque) Cravatas.
Born in Beverly, April 10, 1926, Joe was the son of the late
Army Lt. Colonel (Ret) Joseph H. Cravatas Sr. and Mary (Betley) Cravatas. Raised and educated in Beverly and Salem,
Joseph was employed in Salem and Beverly as an automobile mechanic for many
years. Mr. Cravatas was a United States
Air Force Veteran of World War Two and was stationed in Japan from 1946 –
1949.
Joseph is survived by his daughter, Susan E. Cravatas of
Beverly, his grandchildren; James F. Merrill, Brian S. Merrill and Melissa H.
Terrio and two great-grandchildren, a niece, Lauren MacDougall Johnson, a
nephew, Scott MacDougall, his former wife, Gertrude H. Duda, as well as several
cousins and other family members and friends.
Joe was predeceased by his daughter Joan A. Merrill, a
sister, Rena M. MacDougall and a brother PFC Frederick J. Cravatas, 7th
Army Infantry killed in action in Althorne, France in 1945.
His funeral will be held from the Berube and Sons
Funeral Home, 191 Lafayette St. Salem (Rt.1A / 114) Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
followed by a graveside service in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. There will be a visitation period from 9 -10 a.m. prior to the service in the funeral home. Relatives and friends are invited. Donations may be made in Joseph’s name to a
charity of one’s choice.