Obituary of John W. Bell

John W. Bell, 82, of Poughkeepsie, died Saturday, June 30, at home. Mr. Bell was a parishioner of St. Mary's Church, Wappingers Falls, NY. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 1, 1929, John was the son of Charles G. and Nora R. Bell. He worked for 34 years for IBM , Poughkeepsie in Product Testing and retired in 1990. Mr. Bell was a veteran of the United State Navy and a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 1646. He volunteered at Good Counsel Home in Poughkeepsie, the greenhouse at St. Francis Hospital, and at the Mt. Alvernia Library. He was the beloved husband of Natalie M. Bell, whom he married April 7, 1956. She predeceased him in April of 2000. He was the beloved father of 7 children, John Jr., and his wife, Kathy of Fort Collins, Colorado; David of Poughkeepsie,; Stephen and his wife, Robin, of Auckland, New Zealand; Mary Messina and her husband, Tom of Poughkeepsie; Susan Bruska and her husband, Michael of Syracuse; and Patricia of Poughkeepsie. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Peggy Haddad and Mark Bell; Christine, Danielle and Elizabeth Messina; Joshua and James Bruska; Hannah, Sydney and Andee Bell. He is also survived by three siblings, Charles G. Bell, Robert Bell and Jeanette Durham. He was predeceased by his son, Paul, and his sister, Elizabeth Peters. Calling hours will be 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM, Monday, July 2, at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main St., Wappingers Falls, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM on Tuesday, July 3, at St. Mary's Church, Clinton Street, Wappingers Falls, NY. The burial will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery. Donations may be made to Good Counsel, Inc., 3 Neptune Rd., Suite A19D, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or to Hospice of Dutchess County, 374 Violet Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.