JOSEPH F. ZARRELLA

87, of Cranston, Narragansett and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, passed away peacefully on June 23, 2013 at the Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center in Providence after a very courageous battle. He was the husband of Theresa (Palmisano) Zarrella. They have been married 63 years. Born in Cranston, he was the son of the late Vincent and Teresa (D'Andrea) Zarrella. Joe was a decorated World War II Navy veteran serving on the USS Wyoming and USS Blue Ridge in the Pacific. He graduated Cranston East High School. Joe was an owner of Zarrella Plumbing & Heating, Pine Top Ski area and Garden City Lanes. He was a Master Plumber and retired member of Plumbers Local #28 and the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local #51. He was a Past Commander of the Tabor Franchi Post VFW where he was the longest active member and Committee Member of BSA Troop 16, Cranston. Joe also belonged to San Bernardo Society, AMVETS, Knights of Columbus, Elks, Cranston Rod & Gun Club, Sons of Italy and the St. Mary's Feast Society. He organized and ran The Voice of Democracy for the State of RI. In 1988 he received the key to the City of Cranston in recognition of his water alarm invention. For nearly 50 years he made crosses out of burnt matches. His crosses are in over a dozen countries. For over 30 years Joe made beautiful earrings out of shells he collected on the beach in Florida. He gave away thousands of pairs to family, friends, fundraisers and strangers. He always carried a pocket full of earrings to pass out. Joe enjoyed downhill and cross country skiing, snowmobiling, bowling and roller skating. Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Debra Zarrella-Kiley and her husband, Michael and Joseph V. Zarrella and his wife Karen. Joe was the loving grandfather of Joseph G. Zarrella and Michaela Kiley. He was the brother of Adeline Riccio, Mary Mastrangelo, Catherine Ferri, Raymond Zarrella and the late Vincent and Thomas Zarrella. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday at 10 am in St. Mary's Church, Cranston. Burial with Military honors will be held in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. VISITING HOURS: Tuesday 5-8 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Home & Hospice Care of RI, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Ribizzi-Akhtar and the staff of The Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital for their compassion and love for Dad.

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