Joseph P. Cuetara III Obituary (1970 - 2022)

Winslow - Joseph Philip Cuetara, III walked off into the Spirit World unexpectedly on Saturday night of March 5th and 6th at his home in Winslow, Maine at the young age of 51 yrs-old. Joe's journey began October 5th, 1970 at 12:56 PM at St. Josephs Hospital in Bangor. He was the son of Joseph P. Cuetara Jr. and Margurite "Margie" Decker. He lived with his parents in Orono where his father finished school at University of Maine in Orono, and then to Bar Harbor for the summer. Joe was a beautiful, happy, blonde blue-eyed baby with an unusually deep voice. In September his Dad took the family to Clark University in Worcester, MA. to work on an advanced degree. Due to financial issues, the family stayed in Massachusetts, moving to Somerville. Then in the following 8 years the family expanded with two more children, his brother Joshua and sister Rebecca, and moved to North Billerica, MA. In the summer of 1979, Joe moved to Salem, Maine with his mother, brother and sister, to be close to his grandparents Leslie "Les" and Eva (Wildes) Decker. Joe attended schools in Kingfield and Farmington until he was 16, at which time he went to live with his father and step-mother. He graduated from High School in Portland Maine with the class of 1988. He later attended and graduated from the University of Maine in Farmington with a BA in Business and Economics in 1996. Joe started working at MBNA in Belfast in November of 1996, MBNA later became Bank of America, . He has worked for them ever since, and was recognized last fall for over 25 years of dedication. He was the bank's Manager of Support Services and truly loved his job and his co-workers and workers. On May 31, 1997 Joe married his lady, Tina Jolicoeur, and took her three children, Jennifer, Cassandra, and Bono, as his own. Joe was always an outdoor enthusiast. As a child he loved sledding, and skiing on Sugarloaf and Titcomb Mountains in Farmington. He played football and soccer in school in Farmington. As an adult he loved snowmobiles, plowing his own driveway, mowing with his lawn mower, and riding his 4 wheeler. He enjoyed tinkering on vehicles in his garage with his brother-in-law Randy, and working on equipment for his Grampy in Salem. Joe loved helping people, especially his grandparents, the Deckers. He also kept his mother's billing system going for Decker Hill Counseling Center for a couple years. Music was always Joe's first love. At age 4 he heard Queen for the first time and soon knew all the lyrics to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". He would march up and down the aisles of Market Basket belting out the song with his deep voice. He loved everything Queen and Pink Floyd and his appetite grew as he grew. He became a living encyclopedia of music which lasted throughout his lifetime. Even as a youngster, Joe would communicate with people by sending them songs to tell them a message. Before the computer and cell phones he would write it down for you to look up and listen for his personal message. Most recently he repeatedly sent "Landslide" and "Simple Man" to his mother. Perhaps he sent you a message in music at some point. Joe enjoyed volunteering for things he really believed made a difference. He liked being involved with the Winter Special Olympics and Pine Tree Camp. His favorite one of late is Good Shepherd Food Bank, which he supported generously. He would say, "one dollar will feed a child or an elder..." Sometimes he and Tina transported food to different locations for the food bank. Joe was pre-deceased by his Grandparents Dr Leslie and Eva Decker, his grandmother Barbara Cuetara Thompson, grandfathers Jose Cuetara, step Grampy Thompson, and his Uncle Paul Cuetara. Joe leaves behind his wife of almost 25 years the former Tina Jolicoeur, his 3 stepchildren Jennifer Rothberg of NH, Cassandra and Isaac Shepherd of Pittsfield, Maine, and SPC Bono Veilleux U.S. Army, currently stationed in Germany. He also leaves his mother Margie Soft Spoken Decker and step-father Mike Steps In It Walton of Clinton, ME., his father Joseph P. Cuetara Jr. and step-mother Bonnie Rossi of New Hampshire. He also leaves behind his brother and close friend Joshua N. Cuetara and his partner Heidi Holmes of Bath, ME., and his "little sister" Rebecca Cuetara Hudson and her husband Mike of Winslow. He also leaves step-siblings Tammy Thomas of Phillips, Philip Predham Jr. of Madrid, ME., Emily Rose and her partner Nevin Brown of Dover, NH; Steven Walton and Michael Walton both of Deering, NH. He has several nieces and nephews, Kyla Cuetara, Jonathan Cuetara, Leah Cuetara and her partner Cody Peace, Marisa Bickford and her husband Felix Vonder Haar, Adam Bickford, and Devin Rose. Joe also has two infant great nephews, Jaxson and Daniel. He has many Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, and Friends. He also leaves behind 7 young Grandchildren whom he adored: Skyla Walton, Evan Rothberg; Naomi, Sophia, Malachi, Leon, and Everly Shepherd. He treasured them all and enjoyed playing with every one of them. He especially liked to "dance" with them on the deck where he enjoyed cooking on his grill. Visiting hours will be Saturday, March 19th from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at the Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm Street, Waterville, Maine. A service and ceremony will immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, please donate in his name and honor to the Good Shepherd Food Bank or a charity of your choice, per Joe's request.