Dr. Joseph W. Ciccarelli Jr., 68, a longtime resident of Duxbury, died unexpectedly at Tobey Hospital in Wareham on Saturday, April 12.

Dr. Joseph W. Ciccarelli Jr., 68, a longtime resident of Duxbury, died unexpectedly at Tobey Hospital in Wareham on Saturday, April 12.

Dr. Ciccarelli was born in Buffalo, N.Y., and was raised there a short time before moving to Needham where he was educated and graduated from Needham High School, class of 1958. He entered the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with his Bachelors in 1964. He continued on to receive his D.V.M. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1966. He married Mary Casey Ciccarelli in 1963 and after graduating they settled in Hanover and Marshfield for a short time before moving to Duxbury, where he live for many years. He just recently moved to Carver.{sidebar id=1}

Dr. Ciccarelli opened the Ashdod Animal Hospital in Duxbury in 1971 and owned and operated it until he semi-retired in 2003. He was currently helping out at the Bristol County Animal Clinic in Raynham.

He adored animals and enjoyed sailing with his family from the Duxbury Yacht Club and more recently from the Mattapoisett Yacht Club. Dr. Ciccarelli was an avid reader of all books. He will always be known for his keen sense of humor and his enjoyment in making people laugh.

He leaves his four children J. Christopher Ciccarelli of N.H., Peter G. Ciccarelli of Duxbury, Jennifer Ciccarelli of Roslindale and Johanna Lawrence of N.Y., and their mother Mary Casey Ciccarelli. He also leaves his only sibling and close friend Anne C. Ross of East Harwich and a granddaughter Abriana Griffin of Maine.

A memorial celebration of his life will begin on Wednesday, April 16, at 1 p.m., at the Coutinho-Boisse Funeral Home, 678 Main Street, Harwich. Visiting hours will begin at 12:30 p.m. Donations in his memory may be made to the Animal Rescue League of Boston, 3981 Main Street, Brewster, MA 02631.{sidebar id=6}