Joseph A. Zembruski, 40, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 29, 2015 after a courageous battle with cancer at St. Mary’s Hospital with his wife and best friend Jennifer (Corsi) by his side. Joe was born in Waterbury on Jan. 23, 1975, son of John Zembruski, Sr. and Barbara (Vensel) Zembruski of Middlebury.
He graduated from Holy Cross High School in 1993 and went on to attend Salve Regina University. In five years, Joe completed an undergraduate program with a degree in business and music and his MBA. He attended Briarwood College to complete his Associates Degree in mortuary science before beginning his career as a funeral director at Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald–Zembruski Funeral Home for the last 16 years.
Many people knew Joe for his love of Disney, clean cars and music. How fitting that his license plate 1JAZ was not only his initials, but spelled out his passion. Joe first began picking out simple melodies on the piano at age 3. With music as an outlet that he enjoyed immensely, Joe shared his talent at many churches in the greater Waterbury area and has been the part time organist as St. Vincent Ferrer Church for the last 14 years.
On Oct. 2, 1999, Joe received the Congressional Certificate of Recognition and was named Polish Mayor for the Day of Waterbury. At that time, Joe shared, “Although, I am not very old, I have come to recognize that it is very important that each one of us uses our God given talents in a way that we can better ourselves and our community.” Joe served on the St. Hedwig Board of Directors, the Naugatuck Senior Center Commission, and the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce.
Joe was a loving, caring husband, father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, son-in-law, brother-in-law, and friend to all. Besides his wife Jennifer, his children, little buddy, Nathaniel (12) and his little girl, Grace (8), he leaves his parents, John and Barbara Zembruski of Middlebury; a sister, Carol Everett and her husband, Jack, of Woodbury; two brothers, John Zembruski Jr. and his wife, Pat, of Southbury, and Steven Zembruski and his wife, Lisa, of Middlebury; his in-laws, Nick and Noreen Corsi of Middlebury; a brother-in-law, Nick Corsi and his wife, Natia ,of Cape Cod, Mass.; two loved nieces, Morgan and Anna, two loved nephews Steven and Benjamin and several aunts and cousins.
Calling hours will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 2 at the Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald-Zembruski Funeral Home. Family and friends planning to attend the Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, July 3, at 10 a.m., at St. Vincent Ferrer Church, 1006 New Haven Road, Naugatuck are asked to meet at the church at 9:40 a.m. Burial will follow immediately at Calvary Cemetery, Waterbury.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Office of Radio and Television or WJMJ 15 Peach Orchard Road, Prospect, CT 06712.
To send an online condolence, visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.
