A few years ago, Joe started coming to the Community meals at St Joseph’s.Within. A few weeks he started playing the piano. Within 30 seconds of his touch on the keyboard, I knew I was in the presence of a special person with a special talent. His music elevated the meals from the mundane to the extraordinary. When I could get out of the kitchen I would go and talk with Joe. He told me something of his early history and the role of music in his life. He said he wasn’t very good at playing the piano any more because he could not remember the melodies. If I stood beside him and started to sing, his memory was unleashed and away he would go. I loved his presence at the meals. Heaven now has one extremely talented musician in its ranks. When I get up there, I’ll sing - and you play! We’ll have a great time. Gabrielle

My children loved singing in the choir with joe, chatting about his bus. He was always cheerful, pragmatic and always willing to provide the music and he played the piano like an angel, made it look so effortless. Will always remember his lovely smile and how he always made me cry at Christmas mass singing “Oh holy night” solo. God bless you Joe.