Joseph P. ´Joe´ DeMarco Jr., 90, passed away peacefully Tuesday, May 3, surrounded by his family at his Ashland Farm residence in North Andover.
DeMarco was born in Lawrence, Sept. 30, 1925. He was the son of Joseph P. DeMarco and Janet (Tullis) DeMarco of Lawrence. He was the brother of the late Vincent DeMarco. He was married 65 years to Lila Ruth ¨Jensen¨ DeMarco who passed away in 2013.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army while he was in high school and was a World War II Combat Army veteran, serving in Germany, France and Austria with the 65th Division. Upon discharge from the Army, he worked at New England Telephone and Telegraph for his entire working career. He and Lila were accomplished ballroom dancers and won many competitions throughout New England. He loved the beach and spent countless days fishing, walking and enjoying nature at his completely self-built cottage in York, Maine. He and Lila also enjoyed winters spent at their home in Venice Beach, Fla. He was a dedicated father who instilled his outstanding work ethic, as well as his advanced carpentry skills onto his sons ¨Dick and Dave.¨
He is survived by his two sons, David DeMarco of Phoenix, Ariz., (pre-deceased by his wife, Vickie Eaton) and Richard “Dick” DeMarco and his wife Nancy of Haverhill; four grandchildren, Derek DeMarco of Glendale, Ariz., Kai DeMarco and his wife Trudy of Exeter, N.H., Craig DeMarco and his long-time partner Sarah Coletti of Merrimac, Kara DeMarco and her fiancé Ryan Putnam of Bradford; and five great grandchildren, Derek DeMarco, Jr., Tyler DeMarco, Collin DeMarco, Kingston Morse and Lila DeMarco.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his calling hours Sunday, May 8, from 4 to 6 p.m., at H.L. Farmer & Sons Bradford Funeral Home, 210 South Main St. (route 125) Bradford. His funeral service will be Monday, May 9, at 11 a.m., at the H.L. Farmer & Sons Bradford Funeral Home. Interment with military honors will follow in the Elmwood Cemetery, Bradford. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association for Alzheimer’s Research, 480 Pleasant Street Watertown, MA 02472.