Joseph J. Pistilli

Banning, Ca

Joe was born December 3, 1928, to Pasquale and Philomena Pistilli in Philadelphia. He passed peacefully into the arms of his Heavenly Father on July 14, 2023, in Beaumont, California.

Joe’s parents were very loving, caring and always provided what he needed. He had a very happy childhood and was grateful for the love and care his parents gave him and his brothers. His mother was always there for him, and he learned from her how to be there for his children and how to treat others.

Joe attended Steele Elementary and Dobbins High School where he played football. He played tackle; his number was 14. Joe was also on the track team. His favorite subject was History. Dobbins was a Vocational Tech School; his major field of study was machine shop practice. He graduated January 24, 1947, and got his first job at Bowman Gum Company as an apprentice machinist; they manufactured gum and baseball trading cards. Joe always liked planes and put several model planes together when he was a kid, so he decided to enlist in the Air Force. He reported in February 1947, completed basic training, machine shop training then he was transferred to March Field AFB in May 1949 which is where he met the love of his life at a USO dance.

Bonnie and Joe were married in November 1949 at March Air Force Base Chapel. Joe’s fondest memory while serving in the Air Force was meeting the girl he married. They had two sons and one daughter when Joe decided to go home to share Bonnie and his children with his family in Philadelphia. Joe had been away from them for six years; he wanted his parents to be able to spend time with their grandchildren. He received an honorable discharge as a staff sergeant in February 1954. Joe and Bonnie moved to Philadelphia; he got a job as a machinist at The Bud Tool & Die Company then as a general supervisor for an asphalt paving company.

Bonnie converted to Catholicism, and they married at St. Jerome’s Catholic Church in Philadelphia on March 17, 1956; they wanted to raise their family in the Catholic faith. Joe was a member of the Knights of Columbus and The Holy Name Society at St. Jerome’s. They had two more boys while living in Philadelphia. They decided to move to Beaumont in December of 1959 after Joe’s parents and Bonnie’s father passed away in 1958 and Bonnie’s youngest sister died in a car accident in 1959.

Joe & Bonnie had another son and two daughters after moving to Beaumont. When they first moved to Beaumont, Joe worked a short time delivering baked goods for Helm’s Bakery. Then he worked from 1961 to 1965 as a machinist for The Deutsch Company in Banning. Joe owned and operated an Enco gas station from 1965 to 1967, which was located on Beaumont Avenue. Joe was a delivery man for Sun-Up Dairy from 1967 to 1975. He worked as an insurance agent and sales manager for American General Life from 1975 to 1986 and an insurance agent and office manager for State Farm for about nine years. Joe semi-retired in 1986 after he won $100,000.00 on a scratch off lotto ticket at the Beaumont Drive-in Dairy. Joe worked part-time for Secure Horizon’s, Health Net, Sunset Auto Plaza and PGA until he fully retired.

It hasn’t been all work and no play; Bonnie and Joe traveled to Northern California, Utah, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Acapulco, and Hawaii. They cruised to the Bahamas, and to the Caribbean, Bermuda, New York, and Alaska. They also took a 10,000-mile road trip around the United States.

Joe was an active member of the community and had been involved in many organizations over the 63 years they have lived in the Pass area. Joe was a member of St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Beaumont. He was the Chairman for the committee which organized the Fourth of July Festivities sponsored by the church (then San Gorgonio Catholic Church) in 1966 and 1967. He was a money counter, taught Catechism and was a hospitality minister until 2021. He loved greeting the parishioners, especially the children; some children called him Grandpa.

Joe was a Rotary and Beaumont Kiwanis member; he served as the President three times and once as Treasurer. He made spaghetti and meatballs, flipped pancakes, grilled hamburgers and hot dogs many times to raise funds. He played Santa Claus many times over the years for various organizations. He served on the Beaumont Planning Commission in 1968 and was a board member of the San Gorgonio Hospital Foundation for three years.

Joe was the Delegate for District One at Sun Lakes for three years, which is a volunteer organization that helps raise money for needy families in the community. He was a Palm Pal at Palm School, which is a volunteer program to help children with their reading.

Bonnie and Joe received the Cherry Festival Heritage Award in 2015. They were presented with a plaque and a Proclamation from the Riverside County Board of Directors Mariam Ashley for their many years of community service.

Even though Joe was very busy with work and volunteering, the job he valued the most was being a father. He loved kids and always had time for his children and grandchildren; he took us to the beach, Santa’s Village, Oak Glen, Idyllwild, the San Diego Zoo, Yellow Stone National Park, New York, Philadelphia, and Disney Land. He loved Mickey Mouse; they were both born in 1928. Joe was always there for the important events for his eight children, 17 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Joe and Bonnie moved to Sun Lakes in 1986; they stayed active in the community with family, church, and friends. Joe frequented Donut De Lite for coffee and donuts every day to visit with the guys and he made the rounds visiting his family. He was always interested in our lives. It was important to Joe to remember his family’s birthdays. When he got to the point where he was not able to send cards, he would call them on their special day.

Even though Joe served in the military, had many fulfilling jobs, belonged to many organizations, and volunteered his time to various causes, the accomplishment he was most proud of is raising a great family. His happiest memory was meeting and marrying his Bonnie. Their wedding and honeymoon were simple and happy; just as their life had been for the last seventy-three years. The word “family” to Joe meant “love”. He had no regrets in how he raised his family. Joe felt he influenced his children the most by working hard over the years; the same as his parents influenced him. If he had to do it all over again, he wouldn’t do anything different. His wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were his pride and joy!

The military taught Joe to apply himself which he had over the years. Joe’s mother instilled in him the importance of faith, trust and love of God and his fellow man. Even through losing family, tough and tragic times, Bonnie and Joe never lost sight of that and did what they had to do to take care of their family.

Joe loved cooking Italian dinners for his family just as his mother did for his family. Joe lived his life to the fullest; he greeted everyone he met with a smile, and he loved making people laugh. His most famous sayings were, “I’m Joe Pistilli from Philly”, “We are all God’s children” and “Don’t take any wooden nickels, take the plastic ones, they’re worth more.” Joe never met a stranger; he hoped to be remembered as loving and friendly.

Joe’s faith sustained him throughout his life. Joe said, “He was God’s biggest fan; it was His plan for him to meet the love of his life and bless him and Bonnie with a wonderful family and a wonderful life! Joe was always grateful for the many blessings God had bestowed upon him!

For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. 2 Timothy 4: 6-8

The names of Joe’s children and their spouses are as follows:

Michael Pistilli (Carol), Mark Pistilli (deceased) (Peggy), Marcia Pistilli (Michael McFeeley), Joseph A. Pistilli (deceased) (Debbie), Matthew Pistilli (Phyliss), Martin Pistilli, Michelle Pistilli-Sommers (Mitchell), Maria Pistilli

Funeral service to be held on August 18, 2023, at St. Kateri Tekakawitha, 1234 Palm Ave., Beaumont, CA as follows:

10:00 am Rosary

11:00 am Funeral Mass

Interment with Military Honors immediately following at:

Mountain View Cemetery, 1315 Edgar Ave., Beaumont, CA 92223

1:30 pm Reception at St. Kateri Parish Hall – Catered by Johnny Russo’s Italian Kitchen

In Liew of flowers:

Donations to honor Joe’s memory may be made to St. Kateri’s Outreach Program to help the Needy, Homeless, and Food Pantry. Make checks payable to:

St. Kateri Tekakwitha, 1234 Palm Ave., Beaumont, CA 92223

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.weaver-mortuary.com for the Pistilli family.