Joseph T Cyriac

With deep love and heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Joseph T. Cyriac, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, who left us on November 25th, 2025. He is mourned by his devoted wife of 57 years, Teresa; his sons, Joe and Jay; and his cherished grandchildren, Jonathan and Saffron.

Born in Kerala, India, Joe came to the United States in 1959 to pursue an MBA at Marquette University after completing his undergraduate and law degrees at Maharaja’s College at the University of Kerala. He went on to build a long and steady career as an accountant, retiring in 1999 after 25 years with Wakefern Foods Corporation in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where he made his home for more than five decades.

Joe was a devoted husband and father whose greatest joy was witnessing the accomplishments of his family. He supported every dream and aspiration with a lifetime of quiet strength, generosity, and dignity. To his sons, he exemplified the saying: “The only man on earth who wants to see you succeed more than himself is your father.”

He found happiness in simple pleasures—reading, cooking, and sharing good food. Though born in India, he mastered Irish shortbread and made exceptional pizza, proudly kneading and proofing his own dough. He never turned down a scoop of ice cream or a slice of cake—a sweet tooth was his only vice.

We will miss him deeply and grieve his absence, even as we celebrate his remarkable 92 years of life. In addition to his wife, sons, and grandchildren, Joe is survived by his brothers Josy, Babu, James, and Thomas, and by his sister, Molly. He is predeceased by his brother Iype.

Family and friends are invited to gather, share memories, and celebrate Joe’s life on Sunday, November 30, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Higgins and Bonner Funeral Home in Westfield, NJ. A Funeral Mass will be held the following day, Monday at 10:00 a.m., at St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church in Elizabeth, followed by interment at Graceland Memorial Park in Kenilworth.