Oneonta – Joel Frederick Finch, 58, passed away Saturday morning on January 6, 2024 from a heart that worked and loved hard, that was tired.

Joel did very well in school and in childhood.  He graduated and went into the United States Army.  After one term he came home to Oneonta.

His younger life he was a bouncer at the Silver Bullet at night and worked for a vending machine company during the day.  Most of his working years were at A.O. Fox Hospital.  He enjoyed his co-workers and they were the reason he was there.  Joel talked to his brother Jim many times, with light in his eyes, on how he was helping people.  He was many people's angel here and now he continues to be an angel.

Joel was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Janice (Lockwood) Finch and his oldest brother, Eric.

The family still here remembering him are two sisters, Dory and Elise; two brothers, Aaron and Jim; plus, many nieces and nephews.

Joel's biggest part of his life was aimed at cherishing his close friends.  There are two groups, Joel, Mary, Kate and Geri, who made this group an amazing, loving and funny group.  The depth of caring for each other was heard many times in Joel's voice.  Priceless.  Joel and Tami knew each other for a very long time.  They were a couple that ended many decades ago but kept their friendship. Tami was there for Joel and we are so thankful for her.

At Joel's request, there will be no services at this time.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to, www.lhpfuneralhome.com, the website of Oneonta's only family-owned funeral home, Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono at 51 Dietz Street.