Joseph Anthony Cullen

Joseph Anthony Cullen, age 82, of Overton, PA, passed away on June 14, 2016 at home with his loving family at his side. Joe was born on the family farm in New Albany on August 17, 1933 a son of the late Lawrence & Agnes Leahy Cullen. He graduated from the New Albany High School and in 1953 went to Buffalo, NY to work on the railroad, and on weekends he came home and worked at the Harrington Dairy. His aunt, Irene Leahy Coveney, succeeded in her matchmaking exploits by arranging that Joe would find himself in the presence of the pretty schoolteacher Kathleen Burke, whose home was in Sugar Ridge quite close to the Leahy farm. He married the former Kathleen Mary Burke of Overton, on August 16, 1958 the day before his 25th birthday. They resided on the Cullen farm and later moved to the Leahy farm in Sugar Ridge. Kathleen predeceased Joe on January 7, 1989 after 30 years of marriage. Joe was a life-long Bradford County dairy farmer. Joe was a member of St. Basil’s church, Dushore, PA and was formerly a member of St. Francis Xavier Church in Overton. Joe was an active member of Ancient Order of Hibernians. Surviving: 4 sons: Joseph (Becky) Cullen Ramona, CA Thomas (Ellen) Cullen Oxford, PA Patrick (Karen) Cullen Overton, PA Lawrence (Joan) Cullen Souderton, PA 6 daughters: Kathleen (Gregory) Martino Hummelstown, PA Rita (Alan) Lukowicz Yardville, NJ Mary (Ken) Bogdanovich Lebanon, PA Theresa (Kevin) Munley N. Attleboro, MA Margaret (Timothy) LaCroix Morristown, NJ Agnes (Greg) Vanichkachorn Big Fork, MT Brothers: John Cullen Gasport, NY Lawrence (Dorothy) Cullen Melbourne, FL Sister-in-law: Mary Rita Burke Smith Eagles Mere, PA 35 grandchildren: Kathleen (Chris) Iacocca, Alexander Martino, Nicholas Martino, Elizabeth (Michael) Sunkel, Timothy Lukowicz, Matthew Lukowicz, Olivia Lukowicz, Sierra Cullen, Cecilia Cullen, Patrick Cullen, Colleen Cullen, John Cullen, Mary Kate Cullen, Kyle Bogdanovich, Andrew Bogdanovich, Sarah Bogdanovich, Erin Bogdanovich, Alanna Bogdanovich, Patrick Munley, Theresa Munley, Katherine Munley, Grace Munley, Jack Munley, Samuel Cullen, Selene Cullen, Charlotte Cullen, Joseph Cullen, Riley Cullen, Orianna LaCroix, Sophia LaCroix, Benjamin LaCroix, Ella Vanichkachorn, Kit Vanichkachorn, Eve Vanichkachorn, Bruce Vanichkachorn; 3 great grandchildren: Kathleen Iacocca, Abigail Iacocca, Xavier Sunkel; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son: Francis Edward Cullen on July 31, 1977; brothers, Patrick (an infant) and Jay Cullen and Francis Cullen: a sister, Sister Mary Laurena Cullen, I.H.M.; sisters-in-law: Ruth Cullen, Dolores Cullen and Rita Saxe Cullen. A Mass of Christian Burial, will be celebrated on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. at SS: Philip & James Church, St. John Neumann Shrine, Sugar Ridge, Overton, PA with the Rev. Richard Rojas, his pastor, presiding. Interment will be in Sts. Philip & James Cemetery, Sugar Ridge, PA. Friends may call at the family home, 962 Burke Road, New Albany, PA on Friday, June 17th, 2016 from 2:00 to 8:00 P.M. Arrangements are under the direction of the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, PA 18614 To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to www.homerfuneralhome.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph Anthony Cullen, please visit our flower store.