Joseph S Vella

Joseph S. Vella, age 92, of Cape Coral, Florida, formerly of Allen Park, Michigan, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, one day short of his 93rd birthday. He was born June 23, 1929 in Detroit, son of the late Spiro and Antoinette (Nina) (nee: Pace) Vella. He attended Franklin Elementary school in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. He was a 1947 graduate of the Henry Ford Trade School. He began his life long career with Ford Motor Company Glass Plant at the Rouge complex, as an electrician. After attending Lawrence Technical Institute and then Henry Ford Community College for a combined total of 8 years, he obtained an associates degree in electrical engineering in 1965, all the while working the night shift at Ford Motor and raising four boys with Dolores. He was promoted to the position of electrical engineer and continued in that capacity until his retirement in 1985.

From 1949-1953, Joe served two years in the Navy Reserve and then enlisted for two years in the US Army. After serving his country, he married his first love, Dolores Zammit, in 1954 to whom he was introduced in 1950 by his sister, Dolores, at a church dance. The couple settled in Allen Park, Michigan, and were early members of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church Parish. They enrolled their four sons in St. Frances Cabrini Elementary and High Schools. Life was very active for the Vella family. A three-week trip to Yellowstone National Park in 1967 was the start of Joe’s love for camping and travel. Joe served as the Boy Scout Leader of Troop 1061 in the late 1960s. Unfortunately, Dolores passed away on April 23, 1972, leaving Joe to continue raising their four school aged boys. Recognizing the need for a widow and widowers club at St. Frances Cabrini, Joe was a founding member and served as President. It was through the club that Joe met Ruth Kaltz, of Allen Park, who he married in 1984.

In 1985, Joe purchased his dream water-front cottage on Grand Lake in Northern Michigan. For the next 33 years, Joe split his time between Cape Coral, Florida and Grand Lake, enjoying the beautiful Michigan summers and the warm Florida winters. He spent many hours boating, tinkering in the garage, and lending a helping hand to friends and family. Joe enjoyed fishing with friends, but especially with his two brothers, Sam and John.

In 2004, Joe was widowed a second time with the passing of Ruth. In 2005, he met and fell in love with Ann Lurie, of Cape Coral, Florida. Joe and Ann were married in August 2006. Joe and Ann were fortunate to enjoy their favorite activity, taking many cruises together with friends, including a trip to Italy. Joe and several siblings traveled to Malta, where they explored their roots and met European family members for the first time. During Joe and Ann’s almost 16 years of marriage, they were very involved at St. Katherine Drexel Catholic Church. Joe enjoyed singing in the choir and was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, where he attained the Fourth Degree.

Joe’s greatest joy was spending time with his children and grandchildren, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews and friends. He loved having visitors at the Grand Lake cottage and in Cape Coral. Many evenings were spent playing Rummikub and Dominoes.

Joe can best be remembered as a kind and giving person. It was not unusual for Joe to help family, friends and neighbors with their electrical, plumbing or other home maintenance projects. He was “Joe the handyman” and he loved every moment of that role. From an early age, he would take machinery apart just to figure out how it worked. Joe could often be heard to say, “Why should I buy it, when I can build it myself!” There was never a mechanical or electrical product that he could not fix or “improve” its function or design as needed.

Joseph is survived by his beloved wife Ann (nee: Lurie) Vella. Dearest father of Kenneth (Eileen) Vella, Stephen (Nancy) Vella, Michael (Diane) Vella, and David (Kathryn) Vella. Loving step-father of David Lurie. Loving grandfather of Andrea (Justin) Matheny, Christopher (Jeffrey Boyar) Vella, Matthew (Rachel) Vella, Jennifer (Adam) Keller, Joshua (Kayla) Vella, Stephanie (Jason) Meints, Jeffrey (Kelly) Vella and Stephen Vella. Step-grandfather of Alicia and Kristin Lurie. Loving great-grandfather of Zoey Keller, Anastasia Keller, Taylor Vella, Peyton Vella, Millie Vella, and Olivia Vella. Brother of Dolores (the late James) Mulcahy, the late Alice (the late Joseph) Krizanich, the late Louis (Arlene Moody) Vella, Mary (the late Angelo) Fenech, the late George (the late Patsy) Vella, Sam Vella, Rita (Mort) Dunlop, Sylvia Oper, and John (Sandy) Vella. Brother-in-law to James (Patricia) Magestro, Joseph (Dorothy) Magestro, Grace (the late Raymond) Feller, the late Connie (Lorne) Torgerson and Carmen (Art) Sobczak. Joseph is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Hope Hospice of Cape Coral, FL. Visitation for Joseph will be held Monday, June 27, 2022 from 2-5 pm, at the Coral Ridge Funeral Home in Cape Coral. The Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at 11:00 am, at St. Katherine Drexel Catholic Church in Cape Coral. There will also be a memorial service for family and friends, to be held later in July, at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield, Michigan, where Joseph’s ashes will be interred.

A visitation for Joseph will be held Monday, June 27, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Coral Ridge Funeral Home & Cemetery, 950 Chiquita Blvd. S, Cape Coral, FL 33991. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, June 28, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, 1922 SW 20th Avenue, Cape Coral, FL 33991.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CoralRidgeFuneralHome.com for the Vella family.