Joseph Fontana, age 79 of North Providence RI, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, with the help of Beacon Hospice, family and friends and other CNAs while battling the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s. Joe leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Colleen (Markey), his children, Paul Fontana and wife Giovanna Soprano, Shelley (Fontana) Lariviere and husband Stephen, his brother Victor Fontana and wife Beverly, his pre-deceased brother, Louis Fontana, his two beloved grandchildren, Tyler and Alex Lariviere and many other cherished family and friends.

Joe was born and raised in Federal Hill, Providence and is the son of the late Luigi (Louis) P Fontana and wife Filomena (Calcagni) Fontana and resided in North Providence for the past 49 years. When Joe graduated from Holy Ghost elementary school, he gave the graduating class speech in Italian, which he was quite fluent in at that time. After serving in the Army during the Vietnam Era, Joe enrolled in and graduated top of his class in the old Rhode Island School of Electronics, formerly known and RI Radio and Electronics. Graduating from this school significantly enhanced Joe’s love of technology. With Joe’s amazing technical ability, he brought computers into our home in the early 80’s and shared his knowledge freely and willingly. Oh, how Joe loved going to the old computer shows and learning all he could about current and future technologies all through his married life.

People admired Joe’s wit, incredible sense of humor and ability to fix or build about anything that was needed by his family and friends. Aside from his love of technology and fixing, or tinkering with whatever he could, Joe enjoyed shooting at the range, playing golf, beating out the contestants on Jeopardy with the answers, playing pool, coaching his grandson’s little league teams, and above all, making people laugh. Doing crossword puzzles, playing sudoku, listening to music his and traveling to Florida working on his brother-in-law’s Halloween projects whenever possible brought enjoyment to Joe. However, more than that, Joe loved family, which included his closest friends, after all, they were part of his extended family.

Family and friends will always remember Joe for his wonderful ability in making them laugh, feeling loved, and his generosity and giving of himself whenever he could. Joe had a loving heart, caring soul, infectious smile, and was a person that always made you enjoy being around him - Joe will be sorely missed.

His funeral service will be held Monday, March 30, 2026, at 10 AM, from the Maceroni Funeral Home, 1381 Smith St, North Providence, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM in St. Thomas Church, 65 Fruit Hill Ave, Providence. Burial with Military Honors will be in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. Visiting hours are Sunday from 4 – 7 PM.