M. Joseph Basile was born in the North End of Boston on June 4, 1913, the son of Emilio M. and Julia (Bernacchi) Basile. He was raised in Medford, Massachusetts, and graduated from Medford High School in 1931. He then attended Boston University, including the R.O.T.C. program of the U.S. Army, but was unable to continue his education, due to the Great Depression. In the next decade, he worked at a market and later in a bank, and moved to Somerville and later to Arlington.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army, and in 1943 he helped establish the headquarters of the Prisoner of War camp at Camp McCain, Grenada, Mississippi. It was there that he met his future wife, Charlene Chesteen, who was a civilian employee there. In the latter part of the war he served in France with the 306th General Hospital, where he was instrumental in processing released American Prisoners of War for their return to the United States. Returning to America, he went to Mississippi and married his wife on Sept. 9, 1945, then finished his military service in New York City.
After the war, he and his wife made their home in Arlington, Massachusetts, until 1949, when they moved to Woburn. He had returned to his bank position after the war and for the next three decades he worked in the banking industry, in Boston and several suburban communities, including Woburn and Lexington, where he held the offices of branch manager and assistant treasurer. During that time he also graduated from the Williams College School of Banking and, with his wife, raised their five children.
Mr. Basile was also very involved in various church and civic organizations, including the St. Charles Borromeo Parish, the Knights of Columbus, the Boy Scouts of America, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Until his illness, he participated in all of the Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs and especially enjoyed speaking at its school programs.
In his final years, he suffered from leukemia, and died of heart failure at age 80 on June 26, 1993. He was buried in his American Legion uniform (as he had requested), at Lot 620, Hodges Ave., Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army, and in 1943 he helped establish the headquarters of the Prisoner of War camp at Camp McCain, Grenada, Mississippi. It was there that he met his future wife, Charlene Chesteen, who was a civilian employee there. In the latter part of the war he served in France with the 306th General Hospital, where he was instrumental in processing released American Prisoners of War for their return to the United States. Returning to America, he went to Mississippi and married his wife on Sept. 9, 1945, then finished his military service in New York City.
After the war, he and his wife made their home in Arlington, Massachusetts, until 1949, when they moved to Woburn. He had returned to his bank position after the war and for the next three decades he worked in the banking industry, in Boston and several suburban communities, including Woburn and Lexington, where he held the offices of branch manager and assistant treasurer. During that time he also graduated from the Williams College School of Banking and, with his wife, raised their five children.
Mr. Basile was also very involved in various church and civic organizations, including the St. Charles Borromeo Parish, the Knights of Columbus, the Boy Scouts of America, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Until his illness, he participated in all of the Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs and especially enjoyed speaking at its school programs.
In his final years, he suffered from leukemia, and died of heart failure at age 80 on June 26, 1993. He was buried in his American Legion uniform (as he had requested), at Lot 620, Hodges Ave., Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn.
M. Joseph Basile was born in the North End of Boston on June 4, 1913, the son of Emilio M. and Julia (Bernacchi) Basile. He was raised in Medford, Massachusetts, and graduated from Medford High School in 1931. He then attended Boston University, including the R.O.T.C. program of the U.S. Army, but was unable to continue his education, due to the Great Depression. In the next decade, he worked at a market and later in a bank, and moved to Somerville and later to Arlington.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army, and in 1943 he helped establish the headquarters of the Prisoner of War camp at Camp McCain, Grenada, Mississippi. It was there that he met his future wife, Charlene Chesteen, who was a civilian employee there. In the latter part of the war he served in France with the 306th General Hospital, where he was instrumental in processing released American Prisoners of War for their return to the United States. Returning to America, he went to Mississippi and married his wife on Sept. 9, 1945, then finished his military service in New York City.
After the war, he and his wife made their home in Arlington, Massachusetts, until 1949, when they moved to Woburn. He had returned to his bank position after the war and for the next three decades he worked in the banking industry, in Boston and several suburban communities, including Woburn and Lexington, where he held the offices of branch manager and assistant treasurer. During that time he also graduated from the Williams College School of Banking and, with his wife, raised their five children.
Mr. Basile was also very involved in various church and civic organizations, including the St. Charles Borromeo Parish, the Knights of Columbus, the Boy Scouts of America, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Until his illness, he participated in all of the Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs and especially enjoyed speaking at its school programs.
In his final years, he suffered from leukemia, and died of heart failure at age 80 on June 26, 1993. He was buried in his American Legion uniform (as he had requested), at Lot 620, Hodges Ave., Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army, and in 1943 he helped establish the headquarters of the Prisoner of War camp at Camp McCain, Grenada, Mississippi. It was there that he met his future wife, Charlene Chesteen, who was a civilian employee there. In the latter part of the war he served in France with the 306th General Hospital, where he was instrumental in processing released American Prisoners of War for their return to the United States. Returning to America, he went to Mississippi and married his wife on Sept. 9, 1945, then finished his military service in New York City.
After the war, he and his wife made their home in Arlington, Massachusetts, until 1949, when they moved to Woburn. He had returned to his bank position after the war and for the next three decades he worked in the banking industry, in Boston and several suburban communities, including Woburn and Lexington, where he held the offices of branch manager and assistant treasurer. During that time he also graduated from the Williams College School of Banking and, with his wife, raised their five children.
Mr. Basile was also very involved in various church and civic organizations, including the St. Charles Borromeo Parish, the Knights of Columbus, the Boy Scouts of America, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Until his illness, he participated in all of the Memorial Day and Veterans Day programs and especially enjoyed speaking at its school programs.
In his final years, he suffered from leukemia, and died of heart failure at age 80 on June 26, 1993. He was buried in his American Legion uniform (as he had requested), at Lot 620, Hodges Ave., Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn.
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