Joseph Furfaro
Joseph Angelo Furfaro passed away peacefully on 17 September 2017 after a long battle with cardiovascular disease. He was born 27 September 1930 in Philadelphia to Theresa Capperella and his biological father Zabadeo Antonucci whom he never met. Raised by Theresa and his adoptive father Joseph Furfaro, he grew up in Bellefonte, PA where he remained all his life. Joseph was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Catholic Church and also attended Trinity United Methodist Church in Bellefonte. He served in the US Navy from 1947 to 1951 as a Seaman, 1st class and small boat coxswain, for three years, 11 months, and 13 days, aboard the USS Worcester and the Newport News. On 30 April 1955 he married Peggy McKean who preceded him in death. Joe was employed at Bellefonte Milk Products 1947, Titan Metal Co/Cerro Copper & Brass 1951-1958, Boston Furniture & Supply 1958-1962, the Singer Sewing Company 1962-1966 (he never met a sewing machine he couldn’t repair), Martin Marietta Aggregates 1967-1983, K-Mart after 1983, and was a real estate agent at ERA Benchmark for many years. He was a crossing guard for the Bellefonte School District until 2016. He was also an usher for Penn State Football games for 50 years, and for 315 consecutive home games, before retiring in 2015. Joe had a love of animals, and would never hesitate to help a lost dog that he happened upon. He was a hard worker from a young age. At about age 11, he had a paper route (an Evening News newspaper), earning $2/week. After picking up papers from the little store on High St then owned by Joe Thomas (now Wine and Café on the Park) he made his 11 deliveries along Thomas St and all the way into Coleville. Within one year he saved enough money to buy a sorely needed new pair of shoes. Around age 14 he worked at Pete Mangino’s Shoe Repair Shop on High St, where he learned to make small repairs himself, and regularly polished patrons’ shoes. Finally, while still in school, Joe was a pin-setter for the IOOF during bowling nights. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, softball player, and bowler, and loved to play guitar and decorate for Christmas each year. Joe is survived by his children Darrell Furfaro (Judy) of Bellefonte; Carl Furfaro (Hsiu-Chin Kao) of Seattle, WA; Roger Furfaro (Brenda) of Indian Trail, NC; and Joyce Furfaro (John Lynch) of Bellefonte; step-daughter Sherry Burklew of Melbourne, FL; and step-son Nile Parks (Lincoln, AR); grandchildren Jordan Connors and Patricia Burklew (FL), Dion Furfaro (Bellefonte), Alainya Furfaro (NC), and Eric Butler (Spring Mills); his sister Carmella Harter (State College),and half siblings Dina and Joe Antonucci (NV), Etalo and Edmund Antonucci (CA), and Vito Antonucci and Marie Secreto (IL). He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Peggy, daughter Karen Hull Snare, and sister Patricia Mayes. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at Trinity United Methodist Church at 128 W. Howard Street Bellefonte at 10:30am with Pastor Christopher Passante officiating. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church at 128 W. Howard Street Bellefonte, PA 16823 or PAWS at 1401 Trout Road State College, PA 16801.Obituary
Joseph Angelo Furfaro passed away peacefully on 17 September 2017 after a long battle with cardiovascular disease. He was born 27 September 1930 in Philadelphia to Theresa Capperella and his biological father Zabadeo Antonucci whom he never met. Raised by Theresa and his adoptive father Joseph Furfaro, he grew up in Bellefonte, PA where he remained all his life. Joseph was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Catholic Church and also attended Trinity United Methodist Church in Bellefonte. He served in the US Navy from 1947 to 1951 as a Seaman, 1st class and small boat coxswain, for three years, 11 months, and 13 days, aboard the USS Worcester and the Newport News. On 30 April 1955 he married Peggy McKean who preceded him in death. Joe was employed at Bellefonte Milk Products 1947, Titan Metal Co/Cerro Copper & Brass 1951-1958, Boston Furniture & Supply 1958-1962, the Singer Sewing Company 1962-1966 (he never met a sewing machine he couldn’t repair), Martin Marietta Aggregates 1967-1983, K-Mart after 1983, and was a real estate agent at ERA Benchmark for many years. He was a crossing guard for the Bellefonte School District until 2016. He was also an usher for Penn State Football games for 50 years, and for 315 consecutive home games, before retiring in 2015. Joe had a love of animals, and would never hesitate to help a lost dog that he happened upon. He was a hard worker from a young age. At about age 11, he had a paper route (an Evening News newspaper), earning $2/week. After picking up papers from the little store on High St then owned by Joe Thomas (now Wine and Café on the Park) he made his 11 deliveries along Thomas St and all the way into Coleville. Within one year he saved enough money to buy a sorely needed new pair of shoes. Around age 14 he worked at Pete Mangino’s Shoe Repair Shop on High St, where he learned to make small repairs himself, and regularly polished patrons’ shoes. Finally, while still in school, Joe was a pin-setter for the IOOF during bowling nights. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, softball player, and bowler, and loved to play guitar and decorate for Christmas each year. Joe is survived by his children Darrell Furfaro (Judy) of Bellefonte; Carl Furfaro (Hsiu-Chin Kao) of Seattle, WA; Roger Furfaro (Brenda) of Indian Trail, NC; and Joyce Furfaro (John Lynch) of Bellefonte; step-daughter Sherry Burklew of Melbourne, FL; and step-son Nile Parks (Lincoln, AR); grandchildren Jordan Connors and Patricia Burklew (FL), Dion Furfaro (Bellefonte), Alainya Furfaro (NC), and Eric Butler (Spring Mills); his sister Carmella Harter (State College),and half siblings Dina and Joe Antonucci (NV), Etalo and Edmund Antonucci (CA), and Vito Antonucci and Marie Secreto (IL). He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Peggy, daughter Karen Hull Snare, and sister Patricia Mayes. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at Trinity United Methodist Church at 128 W. Howard Street Bellefonte at 10:30am with Pastor Christopher Passante officiating. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church at 128 W. Howard Street Bellefonte, PA 16823 or PAWS at 1401 Trout Road State College, PA 16801.
Events
10:30 AM
BELLEFONTE, PA 16823