Pasquale Rocca

Pasquale Rocca, age 93 of Warren, died Saturday, February 15, 2014 surrounded by his loved ones at home. He was born on May 22, 1920 in Valdez, Colorado, son of the late Angelo and the late Raphaela (nee: Recchia) Rocca.Coming from parents of Italian descent, it was the state of Colorado that they chose to settle in upon emigrating to America,…and there that they welcomed their new son, Pasquale. Three years later, with homesickness beckoning, the family decided to return to their roots and relocated back to Italy. With Pasquale exiting his teen years just at the juncture of World War II, it was the Italian Army that would make the fateful call for him to join the fight and support his country. Ultimately, the question of just who he should be supporting became an issue, and a source of confusion for many. Though he was serving valiantly alongside his Italian patriots, the fact of his American citizenship just couldn't be ignored. But prior to all of this, his time served was not without its interesting highlights,…one of which involved a rather telling change for Pasquale. Possessing some natural talents in the kitchen, it was no surprise that part of his wartime responsibilities involved feeding the soldiers. On one fateful day, he prepared a meal that just happened to be the dinner a visiting General was to consume. After tasting some of Pasquale's cooking, the General became inquisitive as to who had created such a good meal. Upon learning it was Pasquale, the General immediately assigned him as his personal chef. No longer did Pasquale have to join his mates in the mess hall, he was now livin' like the Jefferson's,…"and we're movin' on up to the Big Time!"Following the war years, Pasquale would go on to work hard and diligently in a variety of fields to include bricklaying, pipe fitting, and various construction projects. Though he was building quite a life for himself, he was doing it alone,…until that special day in Pisa, Italy on February 11, 1950 when he shared the vows of Holy Matrimony with his beloved, Marie. It was then that the journey of building a home, raising a family, and fulfilling dreams took flight. And that "flight" would ultimately find them returning to the United States in search of that American Dream.Dreams come in many different variations. But for Pasquale & Marie, theirs was in the form of providing tasty delights to the masses,…which meant bringing a new restaurant to their fair city. Hence, it was in 1964 that their dream became a reality when they opened Firenze's Restaurant on 10 Mile Road in Warren,…a staple of the city for 50 years, and a premiere place to enjoy the best Italian cuisine in town. And with Pasquale's cooking prowess, you couldn't go wrong,…or hungry! As for his personal, at-home prerogative, it was all about cooking "naturally." He didn't go for any of that processed food, and never ONCE had a fast-food hamburger. What he ate came from the work of his own hands,…and a little help from the garden.Pasquale loved his gardens, both vegetable and floral. When it came to his tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, and peppers, there was never a lack for the juiciest and freshest vegetables around. As for his flowers, he nurtured them with the utmost in TLC and enjoyed creating a floral display that was both beautiful and stunning. In 2009, his efforts were so monumental that he was awarded that years prize from the Warren Beautification Committee. It was a very proud moment and recognition for this pillar of Warren.Another of Pasquale's unique and memorable traits involved his love of making wine. He may not have been donned the crown of Sommelier, but he could produce a damn good wine that would make your toes curl. It was mostly white wine from the Moscato grapes he had shipped in, but it was a white that packed a wallup! It wasn't a wine for commercial consumption, just merely a "family vintage" that was enjoyed by many friends as well. He was generous with his "liquid pleasure,"…but also quite protective of it when it came to his inquisitive (and thirsty) sons. Even with the spigots locked, little did he know of their ingenuity and wily ways. When it came to a taste of Dad's wine, they were all a bunch of McGuyver's!When Pasquale wasn't working, there's no question that his favorite pastime was hunting. There was just something about escaping the concrete jungle for a little backwoods enjoyment that soothed his soul. No matter the game, Pasquale was quite adept and proficient with his guns, and the wildlife in his sights didn't have a chance. Whether pheasants, deer or rabbits, he hunted them all and even did all the skinning and prepping of his spoils. And this hunter didn't mess around with tents or a rustic cabin, either. He chose to incorporate a bit of comfort with his "home away from home" by purchasing a house in the quaint community of Applegate in the northern area of the thumb. It was there he created many wonderful memories with his children and grandchildren,…and taught many of them the finer points of shooting and hunting. To this day, those loved ones still enjoy the reflections of those hunting excursions,…and still hold fast to Pasquale's lessons.A loving husband, father and grandfather, Pasquale lived a full and colorful life surrounded by a host of family and friends with whom he shared many warm & wonderful memories. He leaves a legacy that will be both revered and remembered with deep affection. He will be missed immensely and loved eternally.Pasquale was the beloved husband of Marie (nee: Tomaselli). Dearest father of Francis "Frank" Rocca, Michael Rocca, and John (Helen) Rocca. Loving grandfather of Rosalind (Evan Topor), Adam, the late Christina, Gabrielle, Isabella, Nina (Josh) Pier, Mikey, Danielle, Joey, Jacqueline, Aaron, Alex, and great-grandfather of Ryann. Dear brother to Carolina Visone.Visitation for Mr. Rocca will be held on Tuesday, February 18th from 3-9pm and Wednesday from 2-9pm, with a 6:30pm Rosary Service, at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 ½ Mile Rd) in Warren. He will lie in state on Thursday from 9:30am until time of the Funeral Mass at 10:00am at St. Mary, Our Lady Queen of Families Catholic Church – St. Clement Campus in Center Line. Entombment will follow at St. Clement Cemetery, located on the church groundsMemorial donations, in memory of Pasquale's granddaughter, Christina, are welcomed to the American Cancer Society, 20450 Civic Center Drive, Southfield, MI 48076 - Attn: Memorial Department. Please share memories of Pasquale at his memory book.