Joseph Panzarella

Joseph Panzarella, 94, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. He was born on June 27, 1927 in the Bronx, New York. He is survived by his sister, Rose Patti and his three daughters and sons-in-law: Nina and Charlie Constantino, Josephine and Frank Vasta, and Rosemarie and Frank Blot. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren and their spouses: Krista and Steve Beggan, Joseph and Lindsay Constantino, Nicholas and Lauren Vasta, Sarina and Dane Perez, Francesca and Frank DeMuro, Tyler and Caitlin Blot, and Zachary Blot. He was also the proud great grandfather of Liam and Scarlett Constantino, Mila Blot and Zoe Perez, and uncle to many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his wife, Domenica Panzarella, and his brother, Michael Panzarella.

Although Joe was born in New York, he grew up in Sciara, a small town in the countryside of Sicily near Palermo, where he lived with his parents Mariano and Antonina and his siblings Michael and Rose. As young as 8 years old, he worked on the family farm and later trained to be a carpenter. At the age of 19, he returned to New York with his family for more opportunities to work. Five years later, he was drafted into the US Army at age 24. He served in Korea where he was in combat, promoted to Sergeant and later received a Korean Service Medal with three Bronze stars. After his discharge from the army, he traveled back to Italy to “find an Italian wife” at his father’s request. He and his beautiful bride, Mimi, were married on July 25, 1953 and made a home together in the Bronx, where they raised their three girls.

Joe held various factory jobs from making bombs and mortar shells to making pots and pans before he began working in construction. He helped build roads many of us drive on today in both New York City and Westchester, as well as runways at JFK and LaGuardia. He even worked with dynamite, which he learned to do in Italy helping soldiers during WWII. He worked as a truck driver for Anthony Grace & Sons for 32 years. In the winters when construction work was slow, he painted homes and did other odd jobs. He was always a hard worker. At age 65, Joe retired and although he kept busy with jobs around the house, he very much enjoyed just sitting by the front window taking in the warm sunshine and watching the world go by.

His varied work experience helped make Joe the Jack of all trades he became. There was little he couldn’t do or fix, sometimes very creatively, and often with a just a little tape or his handy pocketknife that he carried everywhere. He was an amazing gardener of both flowers and vegetables and made delicious homemade wine. In the kitchen, he was sous chef to his wife, cleaning and chopping whatever she needed. He was famously known for completing puzzles – he loved working on them for hours at a time and was always ready to tackle a new one. If anyone bought him a puzzle as a gift, he would complete it and return it to them, often framing it too.

Along with his wife, Joe was a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in White Plains for 35 years as well as a volunteer at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital for nearly 20 years, where he helped bring patients to mass every Sunday. His faith was his foundation and helped him make solid choices throughout his life. The father of three girls, he was very protective, but worked hard to provide them with a beautiful home. He was strong, loyal, and yes, sometimes stubborn. He may have had a tough exterior, but he had a very soft heart, especially for his “tesoro", his darling who was his treasure – his loving wife, as well as his daughters and sweet grandchildren. Although there were many things he could no longer remember at the end of his life, he never forgot his girls. Family was always his joy and being altogether was what he wanted most in life.

Although Joe has gone home to be with the Lord, together with his beloved wife once again, they left an amazing legacy. They showed us what it means to trust God, love deeply, give generously, serve graciously and cherish family and friends. He will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe’s memory to:

• Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605 - https://www.burke.org/donate

• Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516 - https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org