Joseph "Jay" Canella Jr.

Jay was born on August 31, 1940 as a grandson of Sicilian Italian immigrants. At a young age, he sold hot tamales on the streets of downtown Baton Rouge for his family’s business, “Muffoletto’s Hot Tamales”, founded by his maternal grandmother.

He was a proud graduate of Baton Rouge High School and later served with honor in the Army Reserves. He also served as a reserve deputy sheriff for the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office.

As a teenager, Jay began laying floors and turned that into a lifelong career, eventually starting his own flooring company “Jay’s Commercial Carpets”, which delivered top quality flooring and service to customers throughout the Baton Rouge area for 25 years.

After retiring, he got involved in the Louisiana Institutional Boxing Association (LIBA) where he served as a referee, judge, and eventually became the commissioner for a number of years.

Later in life, Jay enjoyed traveling all over the world, which included visiting all 7 continents, 48 states and special VIP trips to the Pro Football Hall of Fame with his good friend, Jim Taylor.

He had a passion for giving to children’s charities, including St Jude’s Children’s Hospital and the Shriner’s Hospital. He also helped many children in Mexico gain their smiles by donating to the Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic (CLAYPA) and sponsoring children for surgeries performed by his lifelong friend, Dr. Abelardo “Jay” Arizpe.

Jay is survived by his daughters, Kelly Lastrapes (Kevin) and Melissa Canella, son, Joey Canella, and granddaughter, Kirby Lastrapes. He is also survived by his sisters, Mary Williams, JoAnn Falgoust and Donna Canella. He is preceded in death by his mother, Mary Muffoleto Canella, and father, Joseph J. Canella, Sr.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Claiborne of Baton Rouge and Hospice of Baton Rouge for the loving care they gave Jay at the end of his life. Special thanks to his loving sitter, Cleuza Helena de Abreu “CiCy” who cared for him with much love and compassion all the way to the very end.

Pallbearers will be Skipper Rawls, Billy Hymel, Sammy Muffoleto, Kenny Landry, Bert Tugwell, Ryan Richard, Kevin Lastrapes and Brad Lindley. Honorary Pallbearers are Jerril Musso, RJ D’Agostino and Dr. Abelardo “Jay” Arizpe.

Both visitation and funeral services will be held at Green Oaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA.

Visitation will be on Thursday, January 22, 2026 from 4:00pm to 7:30pm and Friday, January 23, 2026 from 10:00am to 11:00am.

Funeral services will be on January 23, 2026, beginning at 11:00am with graveside services to follow.