JAMES NOCELLA, age 75 years, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, passed away peacefully at home on February 14, 2019 in Plano TX following an 8 month struggle with cancer. He was born September 11, 1943 in Hollywood CA, the son of Raymond and Helen Nocella.
James served with the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army, being honorably discharged in June 1967. For 44 years he worked for Buena Vista Distribution Co., a subsidiary of Walt Disney Productions. He took great pride in his work and through the years advanced to Division Manager in Dallas and finally to Vice President prior to his retirement.
James was a "foodie" and an enthusiastic cook, specializing in Italian and Mexican dishes he learned from his family. His favorite TV shows were cooking shows. He golfed with business associates and upon retirement dabbled in gardening. At that time he also began taking yearly trips abroad with his twin sister Joan, several times to Belize on the eastern coast of Central America and once to Italy where they visited Rome and Gaeta, the home town of their great grandparents who immigrated to Brooklyn NY in the early 1900's.
Most of all James was a devoted family man. He was the strong patriarch of a large extended family, always ready to provide guidance and support to his children, grandchildren and other family members. In particular he adored the babies in the family, claiming he could put any baby to sleep on his chest (including kittens). Every Christmas Eve, to the children gathered in the living room, he read "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Sweet memories like that and also of the delicious dinners he so lovingly prepared will be long cherished.
He will be greatly missed by his wife of 36 years, Carol; children Dominick and wife Gisela, Stephanie and husband Darren, Teresa, David and wife Aiste, and Jonathan; grandchildren Mary, Stephanie Jo and husband Blake, Dakota, Anthony, Andrew and Nicolas; and great-grandchildren Ayden and Jeremy. He will also be greatly missed by his twin sister Joan and husband Pat and younger brother Jerry; nieces Lannette, Renee and Barbara, nephews Larry and Jeremy, as well as several cousins, other relations and friends.
The family will have visitation at Ted Dickey Funeral Home in Plano TX between 6:00 and 8:00 pm on Wednesday, February 20. Services will be held the following day on Thursday, February 21 at 1:00 pm in the funeral home's chapel. Final resting place will be at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas TX.
Upon James' request, memorial gifts should be made to the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation.
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