Pasquale was the devoted husband of the late Sharon (nee' Salamone) Maratta; loving father of Rosalia (Robert) Tillman and Gina Gianino; former father-in-law of Charles Gianino; dear grandfather of Sharon Harper, Andrea Tillman, & Robert Tillman; great grandfather of Joshua Brown; dear brother of Vincenza Maratta and the late Rafaele Maratta; dear brother-in-law of Susan (Gerald) Huhn, William C. (Mary) Salamone, Christopher (Billie Jean) Salamone, and Jacqueline (John) Salamone-Stovesand; dear uncle, great-uncle, cousin, and a dear friend to many.
Pasquale enjoyed gardening and spending time at Shaw's Coffee. He had a remarkable work ethic and was pleased that his children and grand children followed his example. He just retired this past January after working since a very young age. Growing up in Sicily during World War II, Pasquale worked to help his family while his dad was a prisoner of war. At a young age, he picked olives, and later tended the family's herd of goats.
In 1967, he met Sharon Salamone while she was home in St. Louis on leave from the WACS. He saw her on the street, she smiled at him, and immediately fell in love. They married in 1968, and raised two daughters, Rosalia and Gina. They lived on The Hill where he kept his beautiful gardens in his yard, and his daughter's yard next door. He grew fig, apricot, plum, peach, and lemon trees, some grown from the seeds he brought from Sicily.
For a time, he worked nights at Marconi Bakery, baking bread. In the morning, he would come home with a freshly baked loaf of bread, and leave for his day job as a butcher at DiGregorio's Market. His specialty was making their Italian sausage with their recipe.
Pasquale loved to cook and kept his freezer stocked with vegetables from his garden. The family always looked forward to his stew, and his homemade pasta sauce was to die for. He took great pride in maintaining his home and property. He and Sharon instilled in their girls invaluable life lessons and skills, and respect for others. But most of all, he loved Sharon, his kids, and his grandkids. He was loyal, devoted to Sharon, perseverant, and loving. He was a sweet and wonderful man with a positive outlook and a smile on his face, and he will be missed by all who knew him.
Visitation will be Wednesday, October 9, from 4-8pm, at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary, 6464 Chippewa Street 63109. A Celebration of Pasquale's Life will be held on Thursday, October 10, at 10am at the funeral home. Interment will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery immediately following the service.
Please leave your favorite memory of Pasquale to cherish at the "Add a Memory" link below.
