Obituary of Joseph Richard Destito

Joseph Richard Destito Joseph Richard Destito, a former businessman and long time member of St. John the Baptist Church, passed away after a brief illness on Saturday, February 10, 2007, at Rome Memorial Hospital, at the age of 95. Born in Rome, NY on May 29, 1911, to the late Saverio and Teresa Bartolotti Destito, Joe and his parents soon moved to Soverato, Italy, where he spent the first nine years of his life before returning to Rome. On October 19, 1935, he married Josephine B. Carello, his childhood sweetheart. After 56 years of a wonderful marriage, Josephine passed away on November 19,1991. Joe was a hard worker, and supported his family from a young age. Initially, he worked long hours in the local mills, then he co-owned an automotive body shop, a Nash car dealership, and later King Pin Lanes bowling alley. In his spare time he enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and bowling. In 1987 Joe was inducted into the Rome Bowling Hall of Fame. He remained a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, beginning in 1954. Joe will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, a deeply religious man, and a wonderful storyteller. He was always eager to say a few words at family gatherings resulting in peals of laughter from those lucky enough to be in attendance. Joe is survived by his children, Joseph and Catherine Destito, Dr. John (Jack) and Ellie Destito, Therese Destito Peterson, Tacoma, WA, and Robert and Veronica Simpson, Ellicott City, MD; his brothers and sisters-in-law Gregory and Mildred Destito, and John and Gilda Destito; his brother-in-law Francis Carello of Florida; his maternal aunt Connie Carrieri; his grandchildren Marianne and Richard Clark, Joseph Carl Destito, Kerry and Jim Furney, Jacqueline and Dan Pylman, Megan and Jerrid Otis, Anne Marie, Kelly Jo and John Destito, and Anne, Mary, and Robert Simpson; his great-grandchildren Alex and Dylan Furney, Jack and Henrick Pylman, and Nicole and Ricky Clark, and many loving nieces, nephews, extented family and dear friends. Joe was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law Concepta (Connie) and Salvatore (Sam) Guaspari. The Destito Family would like to extend a special thank you to the nursing staff at Rome Memorial Hospital for their outstanding, compassionate care in the final days of Joes life. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 14, at 11:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church. Burial will be in St. Johns Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, February 13, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc., 218 W. Court St. Memorial donations may be made to the National Federation of the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD 21230, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, c/o Mary Vincent, 1000 N. James St., Rome, NY 13440, or the HOPE Appeal, 240 East Onondaga St., Syracuse, NY 13201-0511. A Mass of Resurrection will be held on Wednesday at 11:30 AM from St. John The Baptist Church, 200 E. Dominick St. , . Interment in St. John's Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 3-7 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to National Federation of the Blind. Arrangements by the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc.