Joe Cella, 89, retired Philadelphia firefighter and handyman

THERE WASN'T much that Joe Cella couldn't fix.

After he retired from the Fire Department, where he spent 32 years, he devoted much of his time to employing his considerable handyman skills for family and friends.

He could fix anything, from toys to toilets and much in between, said his daughter, Angela Costanzo.

His usual payment: A cup of coffee and a sandwich.

But that was OK with Joe. He didn't do the work for money. A cup of coffee was nice, but what he got out of it mostly was the satisfaction of a job well-done and helping others.

After all, that's what a firefighter does - help others, often by saving their lives.

Joseph Anthony Cella, an Army veteran of World War II who was assigned to Iran and worked on oil pipelines, died Wednesday. He was 89 and lived in Cherry Hill.

He was born in Philadelphia, one of Frank and Mary Cella's seven children, and grew up on Darien Street in South Philadelphia.

He entered the Army in 1943, and was assigned to Iran because of his plumbing skills. Although officially neutral, Iran had Axis sympathies and, in 1941, British and Soviet troops invaded.

The main purpose was to secure Iranian oil fields, which the Allies feared would end up in German hands - and that's where Joe Cella came in.

After America entered the war, the Army used men like Joe Cella to work on the Iranian pipelines to keep the oil flowing to Allied forces. He rose to the rank of staff sergeant.

After the war, Joe joined the Fire Department and served most his career at Engine 1 and Ladder 5, at Broad and Fitzwater streets in South Philadelphia.

His wife died in 1976. He is survived by his daughter. He was predeceased by three brothers, Lawrence, Edward and Frank Cella; and three sisters, Marie Burke, Frances Cella and Genevieve Ross.

Services: Were Saturday. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon.

Donations in his name may be made to the Malvern Retreat House, P.O. Box 315, Malvern PA 19355-0315.