Joseph Pugliese, 74, of Phillipsburg, died Saturday, April 5, 2003 in his home.

He was a retired heavy construction mason.

Born February 27, 1929 in Phillipsburg, he was a son of the late Salvatore, Sr., and Anna Chiaravolotti Pugliese.

He was a member of St. Philip and St. James Catholic Church, Phillipsburg.

He was a former football coach for the Firthtown Football team

He was a life member of the Seventh Ward Democratic Club, Easton; a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Sacred Order of the Golden Dragon.

He was a Yoeman Third Class in the Navy during World War Two and a Private First Class in the Marine Corp. during the Korean Conflict.

He is survived by two sons, Dana of Oxford, Alabama, and Joseph of Cocoa, Florida; two daughters, Margaret Ann Garrecht of Phillipsburg and Joleen of New York, N.Y.; two sisters Rose M. Patti of Lopatcong Twp. and Mary Russo of Jersey City; six grandchildren and a great-grandson. A son, Russell A., two brothers, Anthony and Salvatore, Jr.; and a sister, Ruth Tolotta all died earlier.

Funeral services will be held 8:00 p.m. Thursday, April 10, 2003 in the Noto-Wynkoop Funeral Home, 289 South Main St., Phillipsburg, NJ. Burial will be in the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 350 Province line Road, Wrightstown, N.J. Visitation will be held from 7:00 p.m. until time of services Thursday in the funeral home.

The family will accept expressions of sympathy sent to them, in care of the funeral home.