Joseph L. "Papa Joe" Antico

Joseph Lewis Antico passed away on June 13, 2014. He fought hard until his time, always with his warm smile. He adored his wife, Angela, and their children Joseph, Mark, Richard, Rose and Jazmine. He loved his children in law; Rebecca, Michelle, and Stirling, as if they were his own. He also kept his grandchildren and his two brothers near to his heart. He was loved by everyone, from his family to the stranger on the street. You couldn’t help but love him after you saw his honest blue eyes, and heard one of his famous jokes. Remember y’all, “He was born by his mother, but it happened in Brooklyn.”

Joseph was married to his sweetheart, Angela, for 53 years last September 10th. Their fairy tale began when they were 13. He spent most of his life dedicated to her and their children. He also spent 25 years bettering himself and many others, as an active member of AA.

He attended St. Bonaventure University and went on to work at IBM for 30 years. He also worked for Blue Cross & Blue Shield and retired in 2009.

Papa Joe and Angela were devout Catholics and were blessed to help build churches all along the east coast, starting with St. Jude in Brooklyn and going as far south as St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Boca Raton. In 2007, they moved to Jacksonville where they found yet another family in St. Luke’s.

Papa Joe lived a full, joyous life that included a lot of faith, laughter, rigatoni and pizza.

Funeral mass will be held Thursday, June 19, 2014 at 10:30 AM, in St. Luke's Catholic Church, Middleburg.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 PM Wednesday at Holly Hill Funeral Home 3601 Old Jennings Rd. Middleburg, Fl 32068 (904)282-9336

Post tributes at www.hollyhillfunerals.ocm