JOSEPH ANTHONY BONADIO

JOSEPH A. BONADIO age 87. Beloved husband of the late Rosalie (nee Rossi). Loving father of Josephine (Richard Dimitrov), Marie Stutzman (Edward), Diane Smith (deceased) (Steve), Joseph, Rosanne Collins (Robert), Carol Yoney and Michael (Cindy). Dear grandfather and Papa Joe of many. Dear brother of Concetta Hinkle (late Tom), Frank (late Carol), and the late Rose DeGiglio (Ed) and Joanne Nicklos (Joe).

For those of you that knew our father, you knew "Joe and Rose" were a package deal. There has been a piece of him missing since Rose passed.  Everyone knew that, but there may be some things about our Dad that you didn't know.

As a young man he served his country in the Navy and was on a destroyer ship called the Stribling.  That was a familiar word around our house but you could often see it on the shirts and baseball hats that he wore.  He was also a graduate of  John Carroll University and he would proudly wear his John Carroll apparel as well.  He was proud of his accomplishments as he should be. 

Joe worked for the Merrick House working with the youths of the community.  One of the kids he worked with still calls me to this day checking on him.  He was saddened to hear of his passing and said how everyone looked up to him.

He had a career working with the government, first Social Security Administration, Navy Finance, IRS then retired from Health and Human Services. He had a passion for law and was studying to be a lawyer but ultimately had to give it up as it was taking too much time from the family.

After marrying Rose in 1957 they created a family of  54 and counting. 7 children, 21 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren with one on the way. Along with 14 in-laws and spouses.  They were busy.

Joe was a long time member of several groups, The Knights of Columbus, The Holy Name Society and he was president of the Parma Friends of the Library  for years. Joe also volunteered as a CCD teacher at Our Lady of Good Counsel parish and served masses at St Francis de Sales which he was a parishioner  for over 50 years.

One of his great accomplishments was running the Cleveland Marathon when he was 50 yrs old.  Other things he liked to do in his spare time were going to fish fries, playing on the Huff -n- Puffers senior softball league, traveling and gambling.  He often traveled to Vegas with Rose and visited Italy and Hawaii as well.

If we had to use a word to describe our Dad it would be "Generous".  If you went anywhere with him he'd never let you pay.  In fact if all of his children attended an event, which was sometimes hard to do, he handed out money for what he called "perfect attendance". If you were going to gamble, got a good report card or just came over for a visit chances are you were leaving with some cash in your hands.  At Christmas he'd pass out Torrone (Italian Candy) with cash wrapped around it. As generous as he was he never expected anything in return.  If you asked him what he wanted for a birthday or father's day his answer was always "nothing".  Actually his answer was always "nothing... to be left alone".  He had a sense of humor, but you'd have to when raising seven kids.

Whether you called him Dad, Joe, Uncle Joe, Grandpa, Papa Joe, Mr. B or Pops you were lucky to have known him.  He will be missed more than words can explain by many friends and family.  We take comfort knowing he is reunited with the love of his life Rose. What a glorious reunion in heaven. Now we all have two angels watching over us.

The Bonadio Family

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested in his memory to Holy Family Hospice. Mass of Christian Burial, St. Francis de Sales Church, Thursday February 4, 2021 at 11:30 AM. (PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH). Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Arrangements by the A. RIPEPI AND SONS FUNERAL HOME, 18149 BAGLEY ROAD, MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OH (West of I-71).

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