Plan for the Future
JOSEPH P. MISTRETTA, 97
Joseph “Joe” Mistretta, 97, of Whippany, New Jersey, passed away, Friday, October 27, 2017 at his home.
Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Monday, October 30th at Bradley- Braviak Funeral Home, 49 Whippany Rd, Whippany 07981, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, October 31st at Our Lady of Mercy Chapel, 90 Whippany Rd Whippany NJ. Burial will follow at Hollywood Cemetery in Union NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Joe was born on April 18, 1920 in Newark, NJ to Giovanni and Jennie (Oliveri) Mistretta. He graduated from West Side High School and enlisted in the army during WWII, serving from 1942 to 1945. He was proud to be part of Eisenhower’s 7th Army Balloon Brigade and was decorated for participating in five major invasions in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Central Europe. On his return from the war, he opened a butcher store in Vailsburg, NJ and eventually met the love of his life while sweeping the sidewalk in front of his shop. After a quick courtship, Joe married Gloria (Pagano) on January 24, 1954. He was a loving husband for 59 years, up until Gloria’s death in 2013. Joe was truly a member of the “Greatest Generation”, devoting his life to god, family and country. Joe will always be remembered for his strength of character, concern for others and his easy-going nature. In addition, to spending time with his beloved son and daughter-in-law and cherished grandchildren, Joe loved to dance, travel and socialize. He always greeted all with his signature smile. Most recently, at the age of 94, he was thrilled to travel back to Italy and Sicily where he stayed with family and visited the town of Roccapalumba, where his parents were born.
Joe is survived by his son, Joe and his wife Cindy of Mendham, NJ, two grandchildren, Dan of Hoboken, NJ and Lauren of Manhattan, NY, his sister Annie Giovia and his sister-in-law Norma O’Neil of Whiting, NJ and brother-in-law Tom Pagano and wife Mary Jane, of Siesta Key, Fla., in addition to many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Gloria, and his brothers Tony, Philip and Sal and sisters Florence and Mary.