Joseph’s service will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click here to view the service.
Having completed his earthly work, Joe Tascione laid his hammer at the foot of the cross and peacefully slipped away to be in the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for eternity.
Joseph was born on November 8, 1925. He was the youngest child and last surviving member of a large family which started in Italy and was completed in America after the immigration of Salvatore & Maria Tascione. In the last days and weeks of his life, he called out the names of many of his siblings, as they were known to him: Ange, Lou, Johnny, Florence, Madeline, Palmy, Louie, and Eddie.
Joe deeply loved his family and made every one of us feel cherished and precious.
“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.” Proverbs 17:6 ESV
Joe was married to Lourice Sarkis and they had two children, Donna (Carl) Nichols and Gary Marcigliano. Grandchildren: Mark, Gary, Lori, and Traci. Great-grandchildren: Tony, Matt, Stephen, Gary Jr., Hope, Christopher, Tanner, Taryn, Carter, Patrick, Lisa, and Aria. Great-great-grandchildren: Harrison, Emmitt, Laine, Alice, Gary III, Rena, and Kacie.
Joe worked for years in the vending business as a vending machine mechanic with Kwik Kafé, ARA Services, and Sarkis Management Services. In fact, his vending repair knowledge led to how he met his current wife, Noreen, in 1958. Her act of constantly jamming the coffee machine with Canadian coins and calling for Joe to come fix the machines led to their dating, wedding, and marriage of over 65 years.
They had three children: Joseph (Belinda) Tascione, Wendy Tascione who preceded her father into Glory, Betsy Tascione (William Luss). Grandchildren: Nicholas (Elizebeth), Aaron, Hollyann, and Natalie (Andrew). Great-grandchildren: Riley, Landon, Miles, and Nora. Local great-granddaughters Hazel & Piper brought pure joy to his life with their frequent visits, even until the very last days of Joe’s life.
He is survived by sisters-in-law Donna Allen and Carole Trusler (Frank Piorkowski).
He remained close to his beloved nephew Freddie Vavonese throughout his life, and stayed in close contact with nieces Madeline Del Vecchio Frazee and Carol Thiell.
The names of other surviving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends could fill volumes. Joe touched everyone who knew him.
Joe was the most gentle and sweet human you ever could meet.
This man taught his family and all those around him how to work. Hard.
His work ethic was impeccable. Joe never sat down, he was working and serving others his entire life. He worked six days a week until he was 80 years old.
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10 NIV
Joe loved our country, and like many of the Greatest Generation, he joined the United States Navy on his 18th birthday. During WWII, Joe served in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS BENNINGTON. He would tell us the stories about kamikaze pilots, his ship hitting a whale, a typhoon that broke the deck of the aircraft carrier, having liberty in Japan, and the day their ship returned to America under the Golden Gate Bridge after the war was over.
Joe held dear and was adored by every animal, everywhere. Joe’s pets won the animal lottery because he lovingly cared for them as if they were royalty. He was the modern-day St. Francis of Assisi.
Joe’s carpentry art and skill will live on for generations in homes and businesses in the Rochester, NY area. Joe was a master carpenter and cabinetmaker at Ridge Lumber in Rochester, NY for decades. His fine craftsmanship was often evidenced in his stair-making. He was also a skilled Formica fabricator. Actually, there was seemingly nothing Joe couldn’t build, make, or fix. He was a brilliant problem-solver. He was found in his basement or garage workshops until well into his 90’s.
He helped build, repair, improve and assist in the homes of family, friends and neighbors for his entire life; acts that are so numerous they could never be listed. Chances are, he helped you. If you’re really fortunate, you have an enduring piece of Joe’s craftsmanship in your home.
Further, his service to others, quietly, with no earthly recognition, as unto the Lord, will be rewarded in heaven. “ Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB
Over the decades, Joe helped build and adorn many Rochester-area churches with his fine skills. A sampling of the churches include: Park Ridge Free Methodist Church, Downtown United Presbyterian Church, St. Theodore’s Church, and Lighthouse Christian Camp in Barker, NY.
Throughout his life, Joe freely loved everyone. He was the most gracious person you could meet. He constantly urged people to forgive others and make amends. Family and unity were his driving forces.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:12-13 NIV
Joseph’s body will rest at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery until the day of Rapture. “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV
The family would like to thank Joe’s aides, Melinda and Martha, and hospice nurse Michael, who all helped make it possible for Dad to remain cared-for at home by his family for the last six months of his long and totally awesome life.
For those final six months and even to his very last hours, Joe was faithfully watched over and comforted by his dogs Pico & Bip.
A celebration of Joe’s life will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 starting at 11 a.m. at Newcomer Cremations and Funerals, 335 East State Road 434, Longwood, FL 32750.
Joseph’s burial service will take place at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 US Highway 1, North Mims, FL 32754.