Joseph J. Budai Jr.,71, of Shenango Township, New Castle, passed away the morning of Nov. 20, 2021, at his residence. Joseph was born March 13, 1950, in New Castle. He was the son of the late Joseph J. and Margaret (Nickum) Budai Sr. He married the former Deborah B. Bock of Pittsburgh in 1972. She survives at their home in New Castle.
Joseph was of the Catholic faith and a member of Holy Spirit Parish. He was a graduate of Mohawk Area High School, class of 1968. Joseph retired after 40 years of employment as a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitter/Steamfitters Unions. Before he retired, he held the position of plant superintendent at the Shippingport Nuclear Power Station in the Beaver Valley for Day Zimmerman. Mr. Budai was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting and fishing at the family camp in Tionesta. Joe loved to travel with his wife and enjoyed going to car shows with his 2002 Corvette.
In addition to his wife Deborah, Joe is survived by two sons, Michael P. (Amanda) Budai of Pittsburgh and Stephen J. (Danielle Offenberger) Budai of McDonald, Pennsylvania; sister, Joan (Richard) Smith of Aurora, Ohio; and beloved grandson, Henry O. Budai.
Mr. Budai was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Margaret.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, at the Noga Funeral Home Inc., 1142 Mill St., New Castle. The family asks everyone attending the visitation to please wear a mask.
A procession will leave the funeral home at 10:00 am on Wednesday for Holy Spirit Parish, St. Vitus Church, where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Joseph McCaffrey of Holy Spirit Parish will officiate. Entombment will be in Resurrection Mausoleum.
Eternal rest grant unto Joseph, O Lord. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.