Raymond J Joseph

life story

My life

"Fair, helpful and honest. That's how I tried to live. It was my approach to business. I guess it was also my approach to daily life. I did my best."

- Ray

About Ray

Whether you called him Daddy, Papa Joe, brother, uncle, cousin, or friend, you knew him as a man of kindness, humility, strength and utmost resilience. During the good times, his words were always, “Thank God.” During the down times, quitting was never an option.

Ray was the second of Howard and Mamie Joseph’s seven children. He was born in Scranton, PA, where his family sought the golden promise of America. At age three, his family moved to the West Side Flats of St. Paul, MN, where they lived in a happy, loving (although a bit crowded) home.

On his 18th birthday, Ray enlisted in the US Navy and proudly served during World War II on the U.S.S. Stribling. After the war ended, he headed back to Minnesota, via a stop in Georgia to visit relatives—particularly one who had been writing to him while he served—Mary Ann Jabaley. In his mind’s eye, the pen pal was an elderly, kind person that his mother asked to write to him. He had no idea that she was a striking 21 year old, who loved to dance the Jitterbug, sing, and play Bridge.

In 1950, Mary and Ray married and chose to live and start a family in North Carolina and Georgia where they welcomed six children: Ramona, Karla, Mary Rae, Jim, Anna and Jeanine. Ray worked for the Jabaley family’s clothing store, and later, with his entrepreneurial spirit, started a fashion-forward apparel business.

At the age of 40, Ray became a single father when Mary died from cancer. Her dying wish was to keep the family together, and he did it well—by holding tightly to his six young children (ages 1 to 16) and raising them surrounded by a closely woven Lebanese family where cousins were more like siblings.

In 1977, at 50, Ray lost his business and family home due to an electrical fire. With no business, no house, and two young children still living at home, Ray left the South for St. Paul where he and his children moved in with his mother as he got back on his feet. The day he arrived back, he combed through the newspaper classifieds and found a job doing what he did best—selling. For eight years, he worked at Bob Carter Ford, was a top salesperson, and soon served in executive leadership. Eventually, though, the entrepreneurial spirit resurfaced and Ray opened his own business again, Ray Joseph Leasing and Sales, which he ran until he sold it in 2004.

Ray knew hardship, and he knew great success—in both, he lived with honesty and integrity. With compassion, he worked to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, because he loved kids, and Holy Family Maronite Church, because he was a man of strong faith.

With Ray, what you saw is what you got. He was a man of his word because, as he said, “It’s the only honorable way to live in the world.” Ray summarized his life this way, “My life has been full. I’ve been completely destroyed at times, but you were all there for me. Sadness turned to happiness again; distraught turned to success. With your help, we saw through it. I wouldn’t have it any other way. God be with you.”

On August 29, 2023, Ray was welcomed into Heaven by a stadium of saints—including his wife Mary, his parents, his siblings (Margaret Mansur, Dorothy Latuff, Mickey, Don, and Bev Abbott), and his son-in-law (Greg Fricks). He leaves behind his children: Ramona Fricks, Karla Abbott (Willie), Mary Rae (Brian Johnson), Jim (Nancy), Anna, and Jeanine (Jerry Stenger), 15 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, his baby sister Mary Rollwagen, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

To Daddy: It’s an odd thing, this messy grief. As we say our earthly goodbyes, we loved you as much at age 96 years, 8 months, and 13 days as we did from day one. That will go on. You were and are our guiding light. You taught us the legacy of love, the value of family, and what being “rich” really means. We love you more.

To our care teams: We thank the incredible Emily, staff, and residents at Lexington Pointe Senior Living, the medical team from Minneapolis VA Home-Based Primary Care, the angels from Our Lady of Peace Hospice, and the caregivers who helped us help him continue to live a life with love, dignity, and respect.

memorial service

Holy Family Maronite Church / Fort Snelling National Cemetery

September 19, 2023

The family would love to have you with us to celebrate this man.

10:00 - 11:15 Visitation and Light Brunch at Holy Family Maronite Church, 1960 Lexington Ave S., Mendota Heights

11:45 Service and Mass at Holy Family Maronite Church

1:45 Military Funeral Honors at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, 7601 34th Ave S., Minneapolis Gate 2, Assembly 2 (where he will be buried beside his wife, Mary)