Obituary of Joseph F. Braca

Joseph F. Braca, age 82, of Shelton, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at St. Vincent's Medical Center surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of 58 years of Annette (Paola) Braca. Born in Bridgeport on January 4, 1944, he was the son of the late John A. Braca, Sr. and Mary (D'Amore) Braca.

In addition to his beloved wife Annette, survivors include three loving children, Stephanie Mulreed and husband Jeffrey, Christopher Braca and Sara Braca, a brother, John Braca, Jr., and his wife Patricia, and two cherished grandsons, Kevin and William Mulreed, as well as several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

As a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, long-suffering Yankees and Giants fan, inventor, novelty watch collector, connoisseur of fine sparkling strawberry wine, and master woodworker, Joe was many things to many people. From his humble beginnings as a soda jerk while attending Central High School in Bridgeport (class of 1961), he went on to graduate from Norwalk Community Technical College and enjoy a 40+ year career at Pitney Bowes. He began as a chemical engineer, where he held a patent as the inventor of the glue that holds the magnetic strip to credit cards, an invention he came to regret when his children became teenagers. Perhaps for this reason, he transitioned to finance and ended his career as the Director of Operations at the Pitney Bowes Employees Federal Credit Union.

The family would like to offer a special thank you to Joe's dedicated team of caregivers, who helped make his final years more comfortable, including Christine, Kimone, Paul, and Mercy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. directly in St. Lawrence Church, 505 Shelton Ave., Shelton. Entombment will follow in the St. Monica Mausoleum at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. Friends may greet the family on Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105 or at www.stjude.org or to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, 12502 USF Pine Dr., Tampa, FL 33612 or at www.shrinerschildrens.org or to the National Parkinson Foundation NE Chapter, Donor Services, 5757 Waterford District Dr. Suite 310, Miami, FL 33126 or at www.parkinson.org/newengland

For online condolences, please visit us at www.abriola.com.