"I was so blessed to see my Uncle Joe this past August down in Phoenix. I love you and miss you and will always remember what a great Uncle you were to me. I remember you at your restaurant with your white t-shirt and if I remember correctly very small checked black and white pants with a towel around your waist ready to cook! And I also remember driving in your Cadillac when you would drop off or pick up me and Linda from Camelback High. I can just imagine the four brothers; Mike, Pat, Tony, and now my Uncle Joe up in Heaven frying up some sausage and peppers, having a wonderful feast and reminiscing about old times! I bet the Lord even brought out a big plate of ’chupajeens’ for Uncle Joe being the newest arrival at his eternal home! You are now reunited with your loving wife, my Aunt Gen, along with your three brothers. Linda, Tom, Holly, Anna, Shelly and John: We love you and you are all in our prayers for the Lord to comfort you and strengthen you at this difficult time. Love, Peggy and Jack"
In loving memory of
Joe Labriola
Labriola, Joe came to America from Italy at age 7, settling in Illinois with his parents and four brothers. During WWII, Joe served as an Army medic on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France, during the D-Day Invasion. Wounded, he received a Purple Heart, among many other decorations. In 1948, he married the love of his life, Genevieve, and together they raised two daughters. In 1960, Joe, his wife and children moved to AZ and built their family business, Labriola
Tributes
"I am so glad we recently got to visit with everyone especially Uncle Joe. Thanks for the many memories, especially the trips to Saguaro Lake. You always made our family feel so welcome with your generosity, hospitality, and sharing your love for food. Arizona will always be Gods country to me, however you are in gods country now, happy trails till we meet again"
"In a time when the heart your is so heavy and all you seem to feel is a void and a loss, I think that if for a few minutes your heart can feel different then healing comes,and little by little the void is not so overwhelming and the heart not so heavy. So if only for one minute you take time together with someone, or your own personal time to remember your dad with a joy and happiness you had with him by something he taught you, something he did with you, whatever it may be then if only for a minute I have helped you not to be so sad when you remember to take a minute for your dad. I know it has helped me a great deal when I do itso I wanted to share that with you two. So now I want to share with you a happy memory I have about your dad. When my mom was working for your parents and I would want to see my mom I would call and ask if I could come up, and of course your parents said sure. So in the kitchen I would go and watch your dad cook. No matter busy ,or slow your father always took time to say hello and make me a plate of food. Looking back on it, I do believe now I went up there just to see your dad cook and be served wonderful Italian food, and just used the excuse I want to see my mommy. My Aunt Lucille and I were talking about how wonderful of a cook your father was. She too has great memories of lots of great food and laughter with your father. My aunt, my mother and myself wish to express sincere sympathy in the loss of your father. Love Louise and Gesele Mordini..also Lucille Smith"
"YOUR MOM & DAD WE’RE TWO VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE I REMEMBER THEIR ANTIQUE STORE AND THE RESTAURANT OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH. LOVE TO YOU ALL."
"Uncle Joe, though I only got the pleasure of meeting you, Aunt Gen and your family a few times, I want you to know that those few meetings have made a lasting impact on my life. Thank you for that! You will truly be missed and we love you."
"I have many fond memories of huge Holiday dinners at Uncle Joes and Aunt Gen’s house in Blue Island, Ill. My sympathy to his family. Love, Carmela (Bill’s daughter)"
"First of all, let me say how blessed I am to have had an Uncle like Joseph Labriola in my life. A quiet man with a love of life and a great deal of patience for others. I remember he received a kick in the shin from me in 1968 when he wouldn’t go get me a real Christmas tree quickly enough to suit my 4 year old taste. He didn’t hold that against me, however. I remember the beeping of the oversized van backing into a parking place and many other road trips. There are a great many things he never said, but he always made the people around him feel special. With a loaf of bread and some dried sausage or even a seven course dinner, all were welcome. With great sadness, I will no longer be requested to search for the wild Italian onions (still not sure what to call them) that Uncle Joe had a taste for. I take comfort in knowing that Uncle Joe and Aunt Gen are together with the gang that went before them. Hopefully, all of his family and friends will find comfort remembering the wonderful stories and celebrating his life."
"Uncle Joe, we will truly miss you. We are so happy we were able to spend time with you and your wonderful family this past September. You and Aunt Gen have been so wonderful to me. I loved staying at your house for the summer, when I was only 16. I have many cherished memories..You and aunt Gen are together gain. May Our Lord bless you and your beautiful family Linda, Tom Holly , Anna , John and Michelle. We will truly miss you. Sonny and Betty London"
"Being two natives of Phx., eating many times at our favorites place, we certainly remember your dear father. We send our deepest sympathy and prayers to all the family. Ann and Bill Kalaf. (Tom was with our son Steve, in band and we are close with Shirley and Ray). God bless and comfort you."
"joe i will treasure all the good times we had together. You are a very special brother in law. I always thought the world of you and Gen. May your family know how much I love them at this time of sorrow. May we all be together some day...I will always miss you and Gen, Joe and willy. Please look down over us and pray for us, until we meet again. Carmella Fanelli"
"To My Uncle Joe, Saying Good Bye has always been very hard for me..The more I think about losing you makes it even harder. You and Aunt Gen along with Poppy will always be there for me. I learned alot from you during a time in my life when learning was important. I will never forget all that you and Aunt Gen have done for me although through the years we have been seperated by miles the warm thoughts of Uncle Joe and Aunt Gen will always be something I will treasure.I know you and the rest of the crew are looking down on us now while your playing cards or drinking wine with fresh peaches and smiling at all of us. Uncle Joe You will always be an inspiration to me and I grieve your loss. But in my heart I know you are in a better place next to Aunt Gen and you will always be there for me when needed. In closing I will say that the strength that you taught each of us will be what will keep us going, a strength that never slowed,or waivered a promise that was always kept and never missed and a heart that was always truly genuine. You were a special person Uncle Joe, and I will never forget you... With All My Love..Donnie"
"We will miss you, Joe. You and Gen brought happiness to so many. You raised 2 beautiful daughters and one of them, Linda, came into our lives when she married our son, Tom. We love Linda very much. May the Lord uphold both Linda and Michelle and our grandchildren, Holly and Anna in their grief at your passing."