Fr. Eshai Seth Joseph, MA
1923-2012
Loving husband and beloved father E.S. Joseph age 89 entered into rt peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior on March 17th, 2012.
Fr. Joseph was born in Turkey in 1923. He entered into military service with the R.A.F. during World War II and was stationed in the Middle East.
He entered into the priesthood and was ordained by The Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church in 1950. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1957 and settled in Turlock, Ca. He established St. Thomas the Apostle Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church in 1960 and was the parish's pastor until 1966. He also established St. Mary Holy Apostolic Catholic Church of the East in Hughson, Ca and was the parish's pastor until his retirement in 1997.
Fr. Joseph was educated at The University of San Francisco and received his Masters of Arts degree in Theology in 1969. He also taught Assyrian and Aramaic language classes at California State University Stanislaus.
In 1969 Fr. Joseph was employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad as a telegrapher and clerk. He later joined Amtrak as a ticket agent until his retirement from the railroad in 1988.
Fr. Joseph and his family moved to Oakdale, Ca in 1980 and had resided there until his passing. He enjoyed farming in his orchard and tending to his livestock. He had a lifelong love of birds and animals.
Fr. Joseph is survived by his wife of 46 years, Helen. His six children including his sons Andrew Joseph of Bellingham, WA, Emmanuel Joseph of Lathrop, CA, Aebris Joseph of VT, Paul Joseph of Oakdale, CA, and Mark Joseph of Stockton, CA, his daughter Helen White of Grove, OK and his seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
A rosary service will be held on March 22nd at Whitehurst, Norton & Dias in Turlock at 6:00pm with visitation from 2:00pm-7:00pm. Funeral mass to be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oakdale on March 23rd at 11:00am with internment to follow at St. John's Cemetery in Escalon.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson, St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oakdale and All Saints Catholic Church in Twain Harte.
Service under direction of Whitehurst, Norton & Dias Funeral Service
www.whitehurstnortondiasfuneral.com