Obituary of Joseph Michael Catino

Joseph M. Catino, of Billerica, MA, passed away at Lahey Clinic after a brief illness on June 1^st, 2022, at the age of 79. Joe was born and raised in Medford, MA, one of five children, born to Theresa and Patrick Catino. Joe was self-employed, owning and operating multiple food carts for over three decades. He shared his culinary skills with the public at various town days and special events throughout New England with his primary location outside Lawrence District Court House. All who worked in the vicinity of the courthouse looked forward to end of winter each year, as the return of Joe’s food cart signaled that Spring had arrived.

Joe had built a true ‘Family Business’, bringing his daughters in the early years and grandchildren in later years. These special helpers got the chance to work alongside their Dad and their Papa, seeing how happy he made people, both with his food and his charismatic personality. For more than twenty-five years until retiring in 2018, Joe enjoyed working alongside his wife and business partner, Donna. The two made the perfect team, working side by side to bring smiles to their many loyal customers along with their great food.

Joe was a special person with a magnetic personality. He will be remembered as a loyal friend who always made sure that times together with him were fun and memorable. Joe had many interests, including Music, Golf, Billiards, Poker, and Horseracing, all of which served as just more reasons to have fun, be social, and to be around the people he loved most, his family and friends.

Joe and his wife Donna were partners in every sense. Together for over thirty years, and married for the last twenty-two, they lived, loved, and worked together throughout that time. Their special bond was evident to all around them, as they would pick up and go anywhere, road trips long and short, and looked for every opportunity to make any day a special day.

As a dad, he always knew how to make his daughters laugh, or sing, or dance, and of course to make them feel loved and feel special. Any given day with their dad could include sitting down to watch a movie, or getting in the car to spend a day at the beach on Cape Cod.

Joe may have saved his best taking on the role of grandfather. As ‘Papa’ to ten grandchildren, Joe took immense pride in spending time with, and showing off, his grandchildren whenever possible. His patience, easy going personality, his big heart and genuinely fun personality (and endless supply of ‘Papa’ jokes!), endeared him to all. Along with his grandkids, Joe brightened the lives and spirits of everyone he touched, and will forever be remembered as a man who loved life, loved family, and his spirit will live on forever.

Joe is survived by his beloved wife Donna (Liljegren) Fleming-Catino; Loving father of Jennifer Whelan and her husband Tony of Duxbury, Lauren Donahue and her husband John of Billerica; Stepfather of Douglas Fleming and his wife Maria of Tewksbury, Laura Noonan and her husband David of Hudson, NH, and Amy Martell of Hudson, NH and her fiancé Jeff Legrow. Joe was the loving brother to his late siblings, sisters Ann Errico and Grace Alongi, and brothers Richard and Patrick Catino. He was the proud “Papa” of Daniel and Ryan Whelan; Caitlyn, Kylie, Courtney, and Molly Donahue; Hannah and Jacob Noonan; and Angela and James Martell. He was the great grandfather of Augustus Noonan, and is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends.

  Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington on Sunday, June 5 from 3-5 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the Sullivan Funeral Home on Monday, June 6 at 11 a.m. Services will conclude with a burial in Fox Hill Cemetery, Billerica. Memorials in Joe’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org, 309 Waverly oaks Rd, Waltham, MA 02452. For obituary, online guestbook, directions, and video tribute see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net