Born in New York City to the late John and Yolanda LaScala, he resided in Bayonne, NJ most of his life, where he met and married the love of his life and settled down to raise his family.
Pepe was a loving husband of 52 years to wife Jacqueline, an amazing father to his three girls and beloved Poppy to his grandchildren. He proudly served his country as a veteran of the Korean war. He was a family man with a big personality and even bigger heart that opened his wallet and home to anyone in need.
Pepe was the greatest friend anyone could ever have and was well known and admired in his small hometown community. He was one in a million…. In his presence, you felt special, cherished and loved, even when he called you a “moron”. His zest for life and generosity of spirit, set a high standard for us to live by and a passion to believe that anything was possible. If you ever been to the LaScala house, you know that most everything revolved around the kitchen table where Pepe made countless batches of pasta fagioli and minestrone. He had a passion for trendy restaurants, loved to travel and making the most of his time with family and friends.
In addition to his father and his mother, whom he adored, Joseph was preceded in death by his brothers, John and Stephen LaScala.
Pepe will be profoundly missed by his wife Jacqueline, his daughters and son in laws; Laureen and Mark Cooney, Natalie and Patrick Macri and Kristie Jo and Edward Sapontzis and his six loving grandchildren Callie, Joseph, Laina, Cole, Kaden and Damen, his brother Victor and wife Mary Lou LaScala as well as his many brothers and sisters in laws and nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, February 7, 2019 from 4:00 – 7:00pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 SE Maynard Rd., Cary, NC 27511.
A funeral mass will be held on Friday February 8, 2019 at 11:00 am at St. Michael Catholic Church, 804 High House Rd., Cary, NC 27513.
Memorial donations may be made in Joseph’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5171 Glenwood Ave., Suite 102, Raleigh, NC 27612.
Flowers for Pepe may be ordered through Fallon's Flowers (919) 828-4134
