Jose Raul Fonollosa

WATERVILLE – We are devastated to announce that our beloved father, husband, and PopPop, Jose Raul Fonollosa, lost his battle with stage four lung cancer on March 11, 2026.

Jose was born on Aug. 12, 1961, in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, to his loving parents, Domingo Fonollosa and Carmen Luz Ayala. A few years later, the family moved to New Jersey, where he grew up alongside his four siblings. Jose graduated high school with honors before proudly serving in the United States Marine Corps for the next three years.

His passing came as a shock to all who knew him. During Christmas 2025, Jose appeared to be in excellent health. However, on January 26, after a winter storm in Waterville, he became short of breath while shoveling snow and collapsed outside his home. Shortly after he was diagnosed with Stage Four Lung Cancer.

Jose is survived by his three children, his oldest daughter Kelly, middle daughter Ariel, and youngest son Joseph; along with his grandsons, Gabriel and Bryce; his loving wife, Ellen; four younger siblings; and many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly.

Though his loss leaves a space that can never truly be filled, Jose’s spirit lives on in the people he loved most. His children and grandchildren each carry pieces of him with them every day – his strength, humor, loyalty, stubbornness, and enormous heart.

Kelly, his oldest daughter and proud “Daddy’s girl,” shared a special bond with her father. Together they loved Philly sports, metal music, laughing, late-night adventures, and working with their hands. Jose’s sarcastic humor, quick comebacks, and larger-than-life personality will continue to live on through her.

Ariel inherited her father’s protective nature, his calmness during chaos, and his willingness to put the people he loved before himself. She carries the same quiet strength that defined so much of who Jose was.

Joseph, his youngest son, shared his father’s handsome looks, love of sports, and passion for music and live concerts. Whether it was cheering on their favorite Philly teams, spending time together, or simply making people laugh, Joseph carries many of the same qualities that made Jose so loved. Like his father, he has a kind heart, and a deep love for his family – especially for his mother.

His oldest grandson, Gabriel, reminds the family so much of Jose – from his swagger and mannerisms to the way he carries himself and looks after the people he loves. Seeing Gabriel is, in many ways, like seeing a piece of Jose still here with them.

Being a father and PopPop was Jose’s greatest joy in life. From the moment he became a grandfather in 2006, his grandchildren became the center of his world. Whether they needed advice, help, encouragement, a hug, or one of his famous “swift kicks in the butt,” Jose was always there. His love for his family was constant, fierce, and unconditional.

Jose dedicated 32 years of his life to BIW, working as both a welder and a sandblaster. He took enormous pride in his work and built a reputation for being hardworking, dependable, and exceptionally skilled. He believed in doing things the right way, never cutting corners, and helping others succeed alongside him. Many of the people he trained throughout the years went on to become leaders within the company – something that made him incredibly proud.

In keeping with Jose’s wishes, there will be no funeral or formal celebration of life. Instead, his family asks that those who knew and loved him honor his memory on his birthday, Aug. 12, 2026 – by sharing stories, listening to music he loved, watching Philly sports, spending time with family, light a candle, or simply raising a toast to a man who lived fully, loved deeply, and left a lasting mark on everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Jose will be missed beyond words, loved beyond measure, and remembered always.