Joe, throughout his life, was a town constable, volunteer fireman, ambulance association member, crosswalk guard, public works snow plower, a Seabee in the Navy, a member of the Antique Veterans organization and a self-taught chemist. But more than that, he was a dyed-in-the-wool prankster, with the goal of having as much fun and as many laughs as possible.

The relationship between death and humor can be a difficult one to gauge properly. But there’s no denying that laughter has many benefits, especially after incredibly sad and stressful moments like the death of a family member. Psychology Today writes that laughter reduces stress, strengthens our immune system, improves alertness, lowers blood pressure and suppresses pain. Joe probably intuitively understood all these benefits, which is why he was constantly trying to make everyone smile and to make them look at life less seriously.