- Date Of Birth: July 27, 1936
- Date Of Death: September 17, 2020
- State: Pennsylvania
Joseph Mingora, 84, of Bethlehem, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 17, 2020 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Fountain Hill surrounded by his loving family. Born in Bethlehem, he was the son of the late John and Anna (Petrik) Mingora. Joseph was a graduate of Bethlehem Vocational Technical School. He worked as a millwright for the Bethlehem Steel for most of his young life. Early retirement enabled him to be a devoted volunteer for over 30 years at St. Luke’s Hospital. He was truly devout and a lifelong member of Incarnation of Our Lord Parish.
Throughout his life, he joyfully helped his family, neighbors and friends fix anything they needed. In the words of his grandchildren: “Pop, you were the ultimate tinkerer, mechanic, polka dancer, tree hugger, listener, teacher and best buddy. Pop, you always had faith in us, a never-give-up attitude and a smile on your face. I’ll forever remember you laughing with our dogs as you made your laps around the yard on your walks – the joy it brought you and all of us. Pop, thank you for teaching me kindness, for teaching me to always care for others, teaching me to be humble, teaching me to be hardworking, and the joy we shared at family meals, when we all ended our family prayer with, “a little bit of this and a little bit of that”. Poppa Joe, is heaven’s newest blessing. I know you’re looking over us all, we love you, Pop – Until we meet again.”
Survivors: He will lovingly be remembered by his longtime sweetheart Darlene Merkel; daughters Lisa Lewis and her husband Gerard of Nazareth, Judy Murphy and her husband Tom of Bethlehem, Laurie West of Nazareth and Jennifer Russoli Wills and her husband Christopher of Easton; grandchildren Christopher and wife Lindsay, Corey, Ryan and fiancé Chrissy, Kaylyn and husband Cisco, Shaun, Thomas, Allison, Megan, Alton, Sage and Joe and his loving great granddaughter Mila. He was preceded in death by the mother of his four daughters, Elizabeth A. Mingora, brothers John, Edward and Francis Mingora and sisters, Mary Gaydos and Philomena “Phyl” Sukitch.
