Obituary of Joseph O'Leary Blades

Joseph O'Leary Blades affectionately known as "Joe" was born in the beautiful island of Barbados in Clarke's Hill, St Philip on January 31, 1941 to the late George and Evadna Blades. Joe was the fourth child of George and Evadna. He is the brother of Colin and to the late Undine Johnson, Uriel and Joan Blades. Joe received his early education at St. Marks' Boys School. During school years spent he his time playing cricket and fishing. After finishing school in 1959, he enlisted in the West Indian Regiment and served in Jamaica for three years and then migrated to the United States in 1962. Joe while living in NY worked various jobs and attended Central Evening High. Upon graduating he enrolled in Baruch College where he majored in Business Administration and received his Associate's Degree. After graduating college, Joe worked at a number of Wall Street financial institutions, but because of his army background, he decided to make a career change and became a New York State Correctional Officer in 1978 .He was assigned to various correctional facilities in New York including Fishkill, Arthur Kill and Queensboro Correctional Facilities. Joe retired in 2002 ending his career at the Queenboro facility after serving for 25 years. Officer Blades was described "as a good public officer and more importantly, a good human being. Joe was not just loved and admired by his co-workers, he had a great deal of friends who he addressed as his buddies. During his illness, Joe was blessed to have his friends Rupert Miller, Ophneal Larrier, Eggland Goddard, Keith Warner, Denzel Stuart, Walter Waterman, Stedson Jackman, Vernon and Michael Marshall who visited him and called him daily or weekly to say "hi" even though he couldn't speak back to them. He was able to hear their voices. He knew in his heart that they loved and cared about him. They also check on Sheila too, making sure that she was ok. An ardent sports fan, Joe played cricket for Super Stars and served as their treasurer. Joe also enjoyed watching and going to baseball games -he was a Mets fan. He was involved in numerous civic and sports associations, such as the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, Cameroon Cricket Club, the West Indian Ex-Service Men Association and St. Cath-Marks Association holding various positions in these organizations throughout his life time. Joe was also a member of the Westbury Senior Citizens Center. Joe enjoyed family, and was always researching and looking for more family members to add to the family tree. Everyone was a "cousin" or related in some way to the him. He was famous for organizing the family reunions to Barbados and family picnics held at various parks throughout New York State. In 1965 Joe married Sheila (Grace) Jones who was also from Barbados. They have been married for 54 year. In 2014, Joe became ill and needed constant medical care -Sheila took their marriage vows seriously and proved herself to be a Proverbs 31 woman- "who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil" Proverbs 31: 10-11. She stuck by him "for better or worst" and "through sickness and health". For the last six years she has stood by his side through his illness, making sure that his every need was met. Joe was a father of three - Lynette, Kerwin and Kelvin (Jennifer). He was the grandfather of Anthony, Mathew, Kaitlin and baby Ian. As mentioned Joe loved family, he leaves behind his brother Colin (Joan) who reside in Bermuda and a great deal of nieces and nephews. Nieces - Syleta (Henderson), Dilys (Elliot), Anne (Erskine) Angela and Nicole. Nephews - Eugene, Colin (Stephanie), Jeremy, Andrew and the late Orlan, Cecil and Ian Blades. His great nieces Juanita (Sean), Charlisa (Willie), Danielle, Shakira, Monique, Sharlayne, T'nai, Sabrina (Kieran), Kia, Christine, Olivia, Ariana and Victoria. Great, great grandnieces - Cheyanne, Kailey, Kaliyah, Gianna, London and Arya. Joe addressed every last one of them as "his favorite niece" with such sincerity that they all felt that she was his favorite. And finally, great, great grandnephews - Casey, Judah and Aiden. Joe also leaves behind his many God children, as well as his adoptive son and daughter Wayne Bynoe and Jasmine Stuart, cousins Lois Blades-Rosado, Susan Reed along with a host of other family and friends. The family would like to take this time to thank the Northwell Health Hospice Care Network Team for all of their support and hard work. A special thank you to Father Taylor for his pastoral support and care. Finally, the family would to take this time to thank Bishop Cox and Pastor Sylvester being here for us during this difficult time. Joe peacefully passed away on Friday May 15, 2020 surrounded by his family and his devoted Aide Ellen Brooks who took care of him for the last 2 years. In closing: God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be, so he put his arms around and whispered come to me. With tearful eyes we watched you and saw you pass away and although we love you dearly we could not make you stay. A Golden heart stopped beating, hardworking hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best. Lovingly Submitted by