Joseph James Abdella

Joseph James Abdella, 86, of Boyne City, died peacefully at home on September 19, 2021. Joe was born in Detroit on March 19, 1935, to James and Mary Abdella. With his three siblings, he was raised on Detroit’s east side, where he helped work in the family store in Eastern Market. He graduated from St. Charles High School in 1952.

When he was 17, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Army—a chapter in his life that proved to be formative. It was, he said, during his time in the service that he began to think about the world and his place in it. After completing his service in 1955, Joe attended night school at the University of Detroit and Wayne State University on the GI Bill. He graduated from Wayne State with a degree in accounting. Over the next thirty-five years, he led a successful business career in the automotive sector as the owner of Riverside Metal Products. During this time, Joe served on the Board of Directors for People’s Bank of Port Huron and he was a member of the Algonac Lions Club and Rotary Club.   

While living and working in Adrian in 1967, Joe met the love of his life and his best friend, Mary Ellen. They married in 1969 and raised four children in a loving home in Algonac. In a career second act, Joe and Mary owned and ran art galleries in Port Huron and, later, Shelby Township—often with Joe’s brother John at their side. In 2003, Joe and Mary moved to Boyne City, a community they love and in which they created an active life that included volunteering, camping, the arts, and travel. 

Joe had a passion for the natural world and a love of the outdoors. He often strived to capture the beauty of nature through his paintings and photography. He was an active member of the Crooked Tree Arts community in Petoskey. He shared his beautiful artwork generously and it brought him a great deal of satisfaction to donate his work to support different local charities. For many years, he also supported the drama program at Boyne City High School, creating beautiful, elaborate sets for the annual school play.   

Joe was kind, generous, and funny. Throughout his life, he was, above all, good and decent. He was dedicated to his family and could always be counted on to listen and offer sound advice (much of which was right—sometimes to the chagrin of his children). Until the end, he remained as determined as ever to live life his own way. Even when death was near, he focused his attention—and that of everyone around him—not on the sadness of leaving us, but on his joy and gratitude for a life well-lived and well-loved.

Joe is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary Ellen, his children Kathy Stuart (Gary), David Abdella (Agnieszka Kaczor), Michael Abdella (Amy), and Jennifer Abdella (Charles Benjamin) and their families, his sister Ida Abdelnour (Dennis) and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Joe was blessed with and loved eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers John and Edward Abdella, and his grandson Daniel Willneff. 

On Saturday September 25, there will be visitation at 10:00 a.m. followed by a memorial mass celebrating Joe's life at 11:00 a.m. at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Boyne City.  

A second memorial mass and celebration of life with family and friends in the Detroit area will be held on Tuesday, September 28 at St. Joan of Arc in St. Clair Shores at 10:00 a.m. (visitation at 9:30 a.m.)

A private burial will follow in the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, MI.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to your favorite charity.