Mahoney, Joseph P.

Joseph Mahoney
August 27, 1941 – September 10, 2025
Fairport, NY 

Joseph “Joe” Mahoney, 84, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on September 10, 2025, in Fairport, New York.

Born on August 27, 1941, in Chateaugay, New York to John and Helen Mahoney, Joe was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, uncle, and friend.

The fourth of seven children, Joe had a quiet demeanor that belied his dry sense of humor and, at times, mischievous ways. Until his final days, when asked how he was, he would slyly and bravely reply, “fair to middlin’.”

After graduating from Chateaugay Central High School, Joe attended St. Michael’s College in Vermont, earning a degree in biology. From there, he entered the U.S. Navy, where he proudly served as a communications officer in the Philippines and in San Diego, California. He helped commission the destroyer USS O’Callahan and rode with the ship on its maiden voyage from Boston, Massachusetts to San Diego.

It’s no surprise Joe entered the Navy, given his love of sailing. His passion began with summers spent at his family’s camp on Chateaugay Lake and took him through many of the Finger Lakes. Joe was most at home on the water. He enjoyed swimming, rock jumping, canoeing, tubing, and fishing with his children during their time at the lake and on family trips to the ocean.

A tinkerer through and through, Joe began his DIY adventures at a young age by disassembling his parents’ lawn mower and restoring it to working order. His interests grew into a passion for cars, having owned one of the first Ford Mustang models ever produced – a 1964 ½ in gold metallic. He later sold that model and upgraded to his prized 1968 California Special.

With his interest and know-how, he replaced brakes on his children’s cars, guided them through home repairs, built the family’s first kitchen table, and helped his daughter win first place in the second-grade science fair.

Joe married Helen McArdle in 1974. His lifelong career with Electronic Data Systems took them through seven states, including California, Texas, Connecticut, Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and ultimately back to New York. No matter the location, they built a home together that was warm and loving for their three children – Kathleen “Katie” (Michael) Krenzer, Christian Joseph “CJ” (Karin) Mahoney, and Karie (Ryan) Repich. Nothing brought Joe joy like watching his nine grandchildren – Braeden “Brady” (18), Mitchell (15), and James “Jamie” (9) Krenzer; Joseph “Joey” (11), Harrison (9), and Margaret “Maggie” (4) Mahoney; Grace (13), Gavin (12), and Griffin (9) Repich. Throughout the years, he blissfully pushed each one on the tree swing in the backyard, dragged them on tractor rides with his lawn mower, and attended many a sporting or school event in support of his little buddies.

Second to Joe’s grandchildren were each of the dogs that came into his life, including his beloved childhood Labradors, as well as his own dogs, Hershey and Toby, and his granddogs. Animals of all kinds held a special place in Joe’s heart. His affection for them was a reflection of his kind and gentle spirit. 

Joe is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren, as well as his sisters, Jacqueline Monohan Yessian, Helen (John) Murray, Christine (Donald) Chaffer, and Deborah Meccarielli; his sister-in-law, Mary Patricia McArdle; and many nieces and nephews including Matthew McArdle, Dan Monohan, Kim Perkins, Heather Humphrey, John Bement, Marcy Hotchkiss, Greg Murray, Julie Mathis, Andy Murray, Sue Harvey, Callie Nierenberg, and Vanessa Meccarielli. He is predeceased by his parents, John and Helen Mahoney; his sister and brother-in-law, Suzanne and Lyman “Beans” Bement; his brother, John T. Mahoney; his brothers-in-law, James McArdle, Rich Meccarielli and Richard Yessian.

Please join us to celebrate Joe’s life. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Keenan Funeral Home, 7501 Pittsford Palmyra Rd., Fairport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John of Rochester, 8 Wickford Way, Fairport with internment to follow at White Haven Cemetery. The Mass will also be livestreamed at https://stjohnfairport.org/streaming.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Joe’s memory to: 

UR Medicine Home Care Foundation
300 East River Road
Box 270032
Rochester, NY 14627

UR Medicine Hospice Program UR Medicine Memory Care Program
300 East River Road
Box 270032
Rochester, NY 14627
UR Medicine Memory Care Program