Obituary of Joseph P. Leone Sr.
Joseph “Joe” P. Leone, Sr. left this world peacefully, with dignity and grace, on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at the age of 100. He is predeceased by his parents, several brothers and sisters, and the love of his life, Mildred “Millie” Leone, née Clementi. He is survived by his daughters Pierina “Pat” Zicari and Marie Leone; sons Clifford Leone and Joseph (Tracey) Leone, Jr.; grandchildren Lynn (Chris Kralles) Zicari, Richard (Charissa) Zicari, Leah Zicari (Kelly Gough), Joseph “JP” Leone III, Johnathan (Marissa) Leone, Benjamin Leone; great-grandchildren Zachary Kralles, Clayton Kralles, Carmina Zicari, Richard “Zeke” Zicari, and Madelyn Leone; many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Born on November 21, 1920 he was a child of the great depression, a World War II Veteran, a Skilled Tradesman, a loving husband, a wonderful friend and an amazing father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He spent five years in the U.S. Army during WWII as a Corporal Tech 5 and as an MP. During the war, he crossed the U.S. five times and served tours in Okinawa, France, and Germany. Upon his return, he joined the Bricklayers Union Local #11 (now Local #3) and, for 70 years, remained a proud member of that union up to the time of his death.
A quiet, honest, and gentle man, family was everything to him. In tribute to his grandfather, Rick Zicari said it best:
“(He) was a bricklayer, and a very busy one. He was a master at his craft. An artist. If you drove around with him in Rochester, he would point out buildings he helped to build. Most of those walls are still standing and will continue to stand long after the ‘modern’ buildings are coming down. He was a bricklayer. He laid bricks. Layer by layer he built long-lasting monuments. I cannot help but think: that is how he lived his life. Creating Layers. As each year passed, his wall grew taller and stronger, and those he left behind are each a part of his majestic wall.”
The family will receive friends and relatives at Falvo Funeral home, 1295 Webster Rd. (Route 250), Webster, on Thursday, April 29 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Private interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Honor Flight Rochester in memory of Joseph P. Leone, Sr.at https://honorflightrochester.org/donations/ or the “old fashioned way” by check, made out to:
Honor Flight Rochester, Inc.
PO Box 23581
Rochester, NY 14692
