With deep respect and fond memories, we celebrate the life of Joseph Leo Welch, born on April 2, 1957, in New York and raised in the vibrant heart of New England. Joseph, or Joe as he was affectionately known, was a man of great spirit and humor, and he lived life on his own terms, embracing every challenge and opportunity with a resilient heart and a captivating smile. As Mark Twain once said, "The secret of getting ahead is getting started," and Joseph, a passionate lifetime Red Sox fan, never shied away from stepping up to the plate.

Joseph had a unique charm and an all-embracing approach to life that drew people towards him. His experiences as a bartender and his time working with horses before and after his service in the Army provided a rich tapestry of experiences that he often shared with his family and friends, lighting up their lives with stories that were as full of life as he was. An avid reader, Joseph's love for books not only broadened his worldview but also instilled in him a love for learning that was infectious. His pride in his heritage and roots in Fall River and New England were evident in his stories, and his love for his family was palpable in each word he spoke.

Joseph is survived by his daughters, Nicole Welch Butcher of Lake City, Florida, Natasha Welch Lopez of Palmetto, Florida, and his girlfriend, Denise Francis. He leaves behind a legacy of love in his seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His siblings, John William Welch, Paul Patrick Welch, Jr., and Angela Welch Strauss, along with many nieces and nephews, fondly remember their brother who always brought a smile to their faces. He is preceded in death by his parents, Paul Patrick Welch, Sr., and Nancy Battista Welch.

We invite you to share your memories of Joseph and upload photos to the memorial page as we remember a man whose life was a celebration of love, laughter, and resilience.

Friends and Family are cordially invited to attend a public visitation which will be held on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM at the Southcoast Funeral Home, inside of the Ferreira Chapel, 1555 Pleasant Street, Fall River, Massachusetts, 02723. A funeral service will follow at the same venue at 11:00 AM presided over by Chaplain and Life Celebrant Ines Bates. Committal service with military honors will take place at Massachusetts National Cemetery.

The funeral home offers a lighted parking lot which is available on the corner of Boutwell and Pleasant Street, (opposite corner of the funeral home) and our facility has a handicap-accessible ramp and entrance.

Services are humbly entrusted into the care of Southcoast Funeral Homes at Ferreira Chapel "Celebrating A Life Well Lived"