Joseph Durig, 59 of Niles passed away suddenly Sunday June 23 2013 due to a massive heart attack.

He was born July 19 1953 in Youngstown the son of Joseph V. and Loretta Jane Williamson Durig.

He was a 1971 graduate of John F. Kennedy High School in Warren and a 1986 graduate of Kent State University with an Associates Degree in business.

Despite his early childhood illness of polio nothing slowed him down. Joe worked extremely hard as a mechanic, as an employee of Gas Analytical, and for many years ran a small lawn mowing company.

He was very religious and a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Niles for over 30 years, church eucharistic minister, festival volunteer and top ticket seller for the 2012 festival. Joe was also a member of St. Stephen Catholic Church in Niles and recently became Grand Knight for The Niles Knights of Columbus Council 1681, a position for which he was extremely proud.

He enjoyed gardening, was a devoted family man, and enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandson, above anything else.

He will be deeply missed by his wife Janis Bonacci Durig whom he married July 28, 1979, two daughters, Jamie Brown and her husband Shawn of Cortland, Jill Durig of Niles, a brother James Durig and his wife Trudy of Warren, a sister Theresa Ferrara of Columbus, and a grandson Brock Brown.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and his father and mother in law Carmen and Josie Bonacci Sr.

Friends may call Wednesday from 4 to 7PM at The Joseph Rossi and Sons Funeral Home in Niles where the Niles Knights of Columbus and The Mount Carmel Bereavement Ministry will conduct prayers at 6:30PM

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10AM Thursday at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Niles with Fr. Thomas Kraszewski officiating, preceded by a 9:15AM prayer service at the funeral home.

Burial will be in Niles City Cemetery.

Arrangements are being handled by The Joseph Rossi and Sons Funeral Home in Niles.

Words of Remembrance- Daughter Jamie Brown

People often wonder, how do you measure the value of a man's life? Some people would say owning an expensive house makes a man a success; I disagree; however. My father raised our family in a house that was modest, in fact there are a few cracks that need fixing, and things that needed updated; yet everyone that entered that house was welcomed and loved. Our house is a place where everyone could sit and talk, to get a bite to eat, and of course a cup of coffee if you so desired. To me what makes a man is creating a home for his family to live and love in. And that is the place my parents created for Jill and I to grow up.

Some people place this value on the price of the vehicle a man drives. Well, my father, always had a run down truck. But all those trucks had hard earned rust from all the work they helped my father accomplish. All the dings and dents were from the times he helped a friend or even an acquaintance move to an new place. In my opinion, the vehicles my father drove were priceless.

Some may say a man is made by the clothing that he wears. My father always wore plain clothes all his life. Work clothes that would provide for his family every time he put them on. Recently, my father became the grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus and a Eucharistic minister in the church. We teased him because his dress greatly improved and he felt such pride in those handsome new clothes; nevertheless, even fancy suits could not cover up my father's hands. These hands worked harder that any hands I have ever seen. I will never forget these hands that showed me that hard work and tenderness is what is really important.

Some people may even say that a man's worth is associated with his athletic ability. Well, my father never played on a sport's team his entire life because of his early child hood illness of polio. Yet my father could ride a bike, roller skate, swim, and keep up with the best of them. To me, my father is the meaning of the word athlete. Trying against all odds to live a normal live and achieving it was his Olympic gold medal.

Some may even say that a man is worth his weight in gold. The only piece of jewelry my father owned his entire life was his wedding band. Which to him was more precious than any amount of gold. To my father that band was a promise. A promise to love and to be faithful and loyal to my mother and our family all of the days of his life. He loved us through the good and the bad, sickness, and health. He taught my sister and I what love was and how to make it last forever.

To me the value of a man's life is his heart. My father had one of the biggest hearts I have ever known. He never spoke ill of anyone. He kept all negative feelings to himself. He was selfless and put the needs of all of his family before his own. He accepted us for who we were and loved us flaws and all. He never tried to change us but became a great role model that would eventually led us in good directions such attending church or providing service to others. My father knew that you should not judge others on material possessions or the skills they possess but by the content of their character. My father figured this out early in his life and always lived this way. Because of this my father was an unforgettable man that will never be replaced.