Joseph Fontecchio

Joseph Fontecchio

Joseph Fontecchio passed away Sunday, December 31, 2011 surrounded by his family at St. Mary's Home at Asbury Ridge.

He was born in Erie, PA, on January 21, 1934, the son of Santo and Rosaria Arduini Fontecchio. Always industrious, he delivered papers from his bicycle to earn money as a teen until graduating from Strong Vincent High School. He worked his way through college, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Fenn College in Cleveland. While still in college he married Barbara Narducci. The couple returned to Erie where Joe worked for GE in various engineering positions for many years. He also worked for several other companies that took him and the family to Mentor, OH, and Chicago, IL and then back to Erie. Joe owned and operated DiMichael's Pizza for three years in the mid 1970s. An active Roman Catholic, he was a founding member of Our Lady of Peace parish, where he attended Mass daily until moving to St. Mary's in 2008. He was very active in the Cursillo Movement in the 1970's and 1980's, the GE Golf League, the pro-life movement and numerous other activities that he participated in and organized. He had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother. By far, his favorite activity was to entertain family and friends at his home, making a variety of homemade pasta dishes to the delight of all who partook in the banquet. The chaos of a family celebration was his joy. He loved children, and often took his grandchildren golfing or to a movie.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Nancy Meyer, Lena and Mary Fontecchio and brothers, Anthony and John Fontecchio.

Joe is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara Narducci Fontecchio of Erie; daughters, Stephanie Lindenberger and husband, David of Erie, Julie Wegelin of Erie, Barbara Ringle and husband William of Baltimore, MD and Mary Schmitt and husband, Brian of Spencer, IA; sons, Joseph Fontecchio of Erie, Thomas Fontecchio and wife, Suzanne of Erie, John Fontecchio and wife, Alessandra Michelini of Rome, Italy and sister-in-law, Cleopatra Fontecchio of Erie. He also is survived by 18 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, on Wednesday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. and may attend a service there on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Peace RC Church, 2401 West 38th Street, at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Women's Care Center of Erie County, 4402 Peach Street, Erie, PA 16509.