Giuseppe Merenda

Giuseppe “Joe” Merenda, age 80, passed away Friday, March 8th, 2019 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was the loving husband of Marie; loving father of Nic (Sandi), Antonio, and Joe (Jennifer); loving “Papa Joe” to Christopher, Jonathan , Michael, Jake and Jessie. Loving brother to Teresa (Frank) Cesario, Domenico (Shirley) Merenda, Antonia (Bob) Knackstedt and Phillis Priolo; loving uncle to Joe, Tony, Jimmy, Robert, Kristie (Dusty), Tommy (Beth), Jill, Jan, Kim, Stephanie (Todd), Carie (Blake) and many great nieces and nephews.

Joe was born on September 20th, 1938 in Arasi, Italy to loving parents Antonio & Grazia. After he finished elementary school, he started to apprentice with the local barber in Arasi. He immigrated to the United States in 1956 at age 18 and settled in Chicago, IL. After working for five years in Chicago, he and his partner opened “Mike & Joe’s” Barbershop in Skokie, IL in 1961. In 1963, he stared dating Marie Melone and they were married in 1965. They had three sons and moved to Niles, IL. He was a very successful entrepreneur. In his free time, he carried on the family traditions of making wine, Italian sausage, and soppressata. He enjoyed playing golf and spent many hours on the golf course with his friends and family. In 2003, Joe and Marie moved to Hoffman Estates where he could live his dream of living and working on the golf course. He was loved and will be missed by many.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donation be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. https://alz.org/