Plankowner
Posts: 5024
Location: Gulfport, MS | Subject: Obit Messenger results for 06/30/07.
VILLELLA, Sr. Joseph F., 80, died at his home Friday June 29, 2007 surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Joe was born August 29, 1926 in Punxsutawney and played his high school basketball for Sts. Cosmas and Damien where he was an outstanding shooter. After school and towards the end of WW II, he joined the U.S. Navy and was assigned to submarine duty in the Pacific. After the war, he followed his father in tailoring and attended trade school in New York City. He then located to Erie where his sister Mary was living in the early 1950’s. There he met Carmela Mele, and they were married on October 8, 1955. He worked steadily as a tailor his entire life, at Richman Brothers, Sears and J.L. Cox retiring from the Cox in the early 1990’s. His “retirement” was brief, as he soon was working part-time for Diamonds Men Store and for the past ten years for Taggart’s Shop for Men, where his outstanding skills and steady, personable manner made him an indispensable asset and friend to proprietor Jack Battaglia and his many customers. While Joe took great pride in the quality of his work in a trade which has few practitioners today, he took even greater satisfaction in his family. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather; a friend to so many and a man of exemplary faith. He was a longtime lector and usher at St. Paul’s RC Church and belonged to their Holy Name Society. He was also a dedicated participant in the Nuova Aurora Bocce League. He was always ready to help with tailoring needs of family and friends and was very generous with those he most cared about. His calm and steady disposition, good humor, wisdom and spirit will be missed greatly and will always serve as an inspiration to those who knew and loved him. Joe is survived by his wife Carmela Mele Villella. Two daughters, Ann Bloxdorf and her husband Richard and Cathy Miseta and her husband Edward, all of Erie. Three sons, Attorney Gerald Villella and his wife Holly of Erie; Joseph Villella, Jr. of Erie and James Villella of Pittsburgh. He is the brother of Col. Fred Villella and his wife Edith of San Diego, Calif. and is the grandfather of Jay, Robert, Isabelle and Abigale Villella. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews. Joe was preceded in death by two brothers, Nicholas and Carmen Villella and a sister Mary Crudo. Friends are invited to call at the John J. Quinn Funeral Home, West 9th & Liberty St. Sunday from 2-5 & 7-9 p.m. and are invited to attend Prayer Services there Monday at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in St. Paul’s RC Church. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorials may be made to SafeNet, 1702 French St., Erie, PA 16501 or to a charity of one’s choice. The Holy Name Society will meet in the funeral home Sunday at 3:00 p.m. for a Vigil Service. Sign the guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits
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Obit Messenger results for 06/30/07.
