thinking of Dad and Dedria during this holiday season. love

Dear Dedria,
   We want to express our deepest sympathy to you and your family. we never met Joe, but from all we heard and saw at his service, we know we would have loved him too. 
                     Love,
                     Fran & Sherry

WE HAVE HAD 26 YEARS OF GREAT FRIENDSHIP, GREAT FOOD, AND WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT RAY AND JOE SOLVING THE WORLDS PROBLEMS TOGETHER ? KISTY BEGAN HER LOVE FOR YOU BOTH AT AGE FOUR WHEN SHE WOULD COME IN WITH RAY WHILE I WAS IN MED SCHOOL AND STUCK AT THE HOSPITAL. IT BECAME SUCH A SPECIAL TIME FOR ALL.  KISTY ALWAYS LOVED THE EXTRA PLATE OF THINGS SHE COULD USE TO MAKE HER FOOD ANIMALS.  YOU ALWAYS MADE US FEEL SO SPECIAL. LETS NOT FORGET ALL OF THE EXTRA ANCHOVIES EITHER. WHO KNEW WHERE THE SALAD BEGAN AND THE ANCHOVIES ENDED ? WE HAVE ALL HAD SUCH GOOD TIMES, AND I WE LOOKED FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALWAYS.  SOME OF RAY'S BEST TIMES WERE SPENT AFTER HOURS WITH JOE AS THEY REJOICED IN EACH OTHERS COMPANY, A SPECIAL DRINK OF WHATEVER, AND THE LOVE, COMRADERIE AND ALL OF THOSE LONG LATE NIGHT TALKS. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT WE HAVE SHARED, AND FOR ALL OF THE LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU GAVE WHEN RAY BECAME SO SICK.  HE WAS NEVER TOO SICK FOR YOUR COMPANY, AND YOU HELPED ME AND KISTY SO MANY MANY TIMES. I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY OTHER TIMES WITH YOU DEDRIA.  WE HAVE SUCH A UNIQUE BOND...OUR HUSBANDS WERE IN A CLASS ALL BY THEMSELVES.  HOW LUCKY WERE WE TO HAVE SHARED THEIR LIVES.  IT MAY HAVE BEEN TOO SHORT A TIME HERE, BUT WE STILL HAVE ETERNITY.  I AM SURE THEY ARE TOGETHER WITH A GOOD SNIFTER OF BRANDY, A LOVE FOR EACH OTHER AND US, AND STILL TRYING TO SOLVE THE WORLD PROBLEMS.  WE HAVE ALL BEEN BLESSED WITH SPECIAL TIMES SPENT IN EACH OTHERS COMPANY.  WE HAVE LOVED, LAUGHED AND CRIED TOGETHER, AND I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR ALL WE HAVE SHARED.  JOE LIVES ON IN OUR HEARTS AND WE WILL ALWAYS TREASURE BOTH OF YOU. WITH LOVE, PHYLLIS (RAY), KISTY AND KAILYN.

Dedria and family,
I have such fond memories of Joe, as does my family! Having the pleasure of working at Catalanos for 10 years, it was easy to observe that customers  looked for Joe when they arrived, in fact he was the reason many of them returned week after week. His fun loving personality, sense of humor and sharp wit were enjoyed by all. From shouting "opah"! when he helped light saganake to hand delivering a special taste of wine/grappa to a customer, Joe had a way of making every customer feel special. It was never a dulll moment, as Joe made freinds easily and brought imagination to the restaurant! Remember the magic shows, and the lions that visited the restaurant! What about Henry Mancini and his band! We had sooo much fun, it was way more than a job, it was a famliy. Joe (and Dedria) was loved by us all! You both could have asked the staff for the moon, and we would have figured out a way to get it for you! 
To this day, the Catalano Christmas parties will come up in family discussions as being very special and memorable. 
Joes generosity, kindness, and lovable personality made the world a better place! I am grateful to have called him a friend!

OBITUARY

Joe Lee Catalano-Tudor

March 6, 1934 – September 5, 2011

Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery - Chapel Hill

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