Giuseppe Falcone

Joe was born to Carmine and Saveria Falcone (nee Grisolia). He grew up in the quaint village of Celico, Cosenza, Italy with his 2 brothers, Mario and Pasquale, and his two sisters, Gina and Carmelina.

When Joe was young, his mother died and his father remarried Gina Santoro, a loving woman who raised the children to adulthood.

At a very young age Joe left school and began learning from his father the many skills of becoming a successful butcher at the family butcher shop in Italy. This is where he developed his great carving skills, his work ethic, business sense and superior service to his customers.

In 1955, as a young man of 20, Joe moved from his homeland of Southern Italy to pursue his dreams in Canada. He jumped on a ship in Naples, Italy and landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia approximately two weeks later. He took a train in Halifax and ended up in Vancouver five days later to be greeted by his brother Mario and his wife Maria and son Carmine. He lived with his brother Mario at 4520 Ross Street in Vancouver for 6 years. Not knowing English made it more challenging, but with the assistance of Mario, he went onto work at Canada Packers meat packing plant for twelve years and quickly learned the Canadian culture while maintaining his Italian Heritage.

In 1958, at a German dance hall (Alpen Club) on 33rd Avenue and Victoria Drive in Vancouver, he met the girl of his dreams, a young beautiful German woman, Ursula Kaufmann.

Ursula and Joe began dating after they met at the dance. On May 20, 1961, Joe and Ursula chose to spend their life together and were united in marriage at the Holy Trinity church at 4851 Beatrice Street in Vancouver. Mario Falcone and Frank Kaufmann were registered as witnesses for the new couple. Ursula was baptized in the same Catholic Church on October 29, 1960, seven months prior to their wedding day.

After spending 5 months on their honeymoon in Italy, Germany and on the east coast of Canada and the United States of America, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child and on March 11, 1962, Carmine Dino Falcone was born. Two months later they bought their first home, at 4341 Inverness Street in Vancouver for $8,000.00 dollars. On February 25, 1965, they were blessed with a second son, Tony Falcone. Joe and Ursula would spend many Sundays with their Children at Stanley Park.

In 1967, Falcone Bros. Meat Market was founded at 1810 Commercial Drive in Vancouver. Joe and his brother Pasquale left the meat packing business to pursue their dreams of owning their own business in the Commercial Drive area. With hard work, perseverance, dedication, and desire to be with and support their Italian community, they were able to build relationships with their customers which developed into life long friendships and made the business a successful one. Ursula worked very hard raising the children and keeping the house and Joe in order.

On March 9, 1969, their third child was born, a beautiful baby girl, named Sonya Falcone.

In 1972, the Family moved to 6325 Wales Street in Vancouver. Twelve years later in 1984, with lots of patience, they built their first home at 3568 East 47th Avenue in Vancouver with the help of many relatives including Alfonso, Ottorino, and Pasquale. They have lived there ever since.

Joe has fulfilled many accomplishments throughout his years and his first priority in his life was always his family. He loved his family so much. Joe was always there for his brothers and sisters and their families no matter what the circumstance. He loved all the celebrations he had at our home or other relative’s homes. He had several interests including playing cards on Commercial Drive with his brother Pasquale and friends, and he was also a big fan of wrestling on T.V. Joe could be seen constantly on his computer catching up with the latest trends and face timing with his relatives around the world. Although he struggled the last couple of years, he was a fighter and never complained about anything. He lived a full beautiful life and left this world the way he wanted to. It was a blessing in disguise.

Joe is survived by his wife Ursula Falcone, children Dino (Tess), Tony (Nancy) and Sonya (Jim) , grandchildren Katharina, Taylor, Andrew, Marco, Alexandra and Julia, great grandchild Weston, siblings Pasquale (Lina), Carmelina (Alfonso), Gina (Giovanni). Nieces and Nephews Sam (Maria), Carmine Sr. (Ann), Luigi (Lyn), Rosetta (Bill), Sebastiano (Franca), Carmine(Lucy), Carmine, Gino (Stefania), Erminia.

You are welcome to contribute to any of the following organizations on behalf of Giuseppe Falcone: Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC Cancer Foundation, Diabetes Canada and/or VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.

For those that cannot attend, Ocean View Funeral Home will webcast the funeral ceremony of Giuseppe Falcone on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 from 1:00 PM PST to 2:15 PM PST .

You can view the ceremony live or on replay by clicking the link below and adding the password:

https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/63535

Password: 364401010239