CUSHING — Joseph P. Yamello, 75 of Cushing, died peacefully Feb. 22, 2014, surrounded by his loving family, at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport.

Joe was born in Everett, Mass., May 26, 1938, son of the late Joseph and Eleanor (Pelaggi) Yamello. He was very proud of his Italian heritage and even wrote a book titled Joe, the Shoemaker's Kid.

He graduated from Everett High School in 1956. After graduating from Franklin Technical Institute with a degree in civil engineering, Joe worked for a structural engineering firm in Boston. In 1961 he began working at an architectural firm in Melrose, Mass., that specialized in churches, commercial buildings and residences.

In 1975 Joe became an architectural drafting teacher at Greater Lowell Regional Vocational High School. From 1978 to 1998, he was also the director of adult education and apprenticeship training. Joe was active in many student activities and remained in contact with many of his former students from Massachusetts and New Hampshire. As a notary public, he and Gail enjoyed performing wedding ceremonies for their former students and even performed his own daughters' wedding ceremonies.

After retiring, Joe and Gail moved from their home in Nashua, N.H., to live in Cushing. He did not give up teaching all together. He went on to become a substitute teacher in the local school system. He was also very active in community affairs. Since 1974, Joe was a member of the Cushing Volunteer Fire Department and eventually became the assistant fire chief. Joe would have celebrated 40 years with the fire department in April.

Joe enjoyed spending time with his wife, Gail, their children, grandchildren, relatives and friends.

He loved helping others and always had a joke to tell. Every Fourth of July, you would see him driving the Cushing fire truck in the Thomaston parade, which was by far one of his favorite pastimes.

Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 28 years, Gail Yamello of Cushing; his daughters, Kim (Yamello ) Pease and her husband, Adam, of Warren, Tracy (Yamello) McIntosh and her husband, Greg, of Merrimack, N.H., Christine (Yamello) Dow and her husband, Paul, of Hudson, N.H., Gail (Yamello) Socha and her husband, Billy, of Hudson, N.H., Kelly (Carleton) Jordan and her husband, Tim, of Windham, and Kerrie (Guite) and her significant other, Scott Poulin, of Augusta; his sisters, Eleanor Skinner and her husband, Richard, of Burlington, Mass., and Patricia Lyons and her husband, John, of Nashua, N.H.; his 14 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, Lydia Dupuis, were his pride and joy.

He is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, all who loved him dearly.

He would jump at the chance to spend time with them. He loved teaching them how to cook, make bird houses and wreaths. He also would teach them how to speak Italian, and would slip a swear in there every now and again.

Friends are welcome to join the family for a time of sharing Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Hall Funeral Home, 78 Main St. in Thomaston. The funeral mass for Joseph will be held Thursday, Feb. 27, at 10 a.m. at St. Bernard's Catholic Church, 150 Broadway St. in Rockland. Following the mass there will be a reception at the Rockland Elk's Lodge, 210 Rankin St. in Rockland.

Contributions in Joe's memory may be made to Cushing Fire Department, 39 Cross Road, Cushing, ME 04563 or to American Cancer Society, Relay for Life, 1 Bowdoin Mill Road, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086 (http://www.relayforlife.org/).

Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Thomaston.