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Obituary for Joseph Pace, Sr.
Joseph Pace, Sr., a resident of Howell, former resident of Livonia and a native of Gozo, Malta, died peacefully on April 17, 2017 due to complications of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He was 84 years old.
Joe was born on January 22, 1933 in Nadur, Gozo, Malta, the thirteeth of fourteen children to Peter Paul and Rose (nee. Bartolo) Pace. At the age of seventeen, Joe immigrated to the United States with some of his friends and began working on the line at Ford Motor Company. Joe enjoyed a 43 year career with Ford Motor Company and retired as a Crib Leader in 1994.
In July of 1961, Joe travelled home to Malta to visit family and during his visit, he was introduced to the young Jeanette Farrugia. It was love at first sight and the couple married in Malta October 7, 1961. On November 11, 1961, Joe and his new bride made their way to the United States and settled in Detroit where they raised their two daughters, Mary Rose and Diane. After eleven years in Detroit, the family made their home in Livonia and were blessed with the birth of their son, Joseph, Jr.
Family, faith and friendships were the foundation of Joe’s life. He loved and adored his wife and children and especially enjoyed spending time with his five grandchildren. He cherished the family vacations in northern Michigan and the trip to Myrtle Beach last summer where he was able to enjoy the ocean, a beer and surround himself with family.
Joe was a longtime parishioner of St. Kenneth Church in Livonia and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Howell. He enjoyed volunteering fish fry dinners and made many lifelong friends. Every Tuesday, Joe and Jeanette would attend mass and go to breakfast with a group of friends from Malta.
Joe was passionate about the outdoors and hockey. He was happy being outside — gardening, cutting the grass or feeding the birds. He also enjoyed nothing more than going to see the Red Wings with his son, Joe, decked out in their Red Wings gear. Joe’s family would also humor him when he’d tune in to the Canadian games each week to get a glimpse of Don Cherry’s suit.
Joe was a pillar of strength for his family. After his diagnosis with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma thirteen years ago, many rounds of chemo and open-heart surgery, Joe never questioned his path but remained positive and upbeat, often joking with his doctors and nurses. He was a people person at heart and had a knack for making others feel comfortable in his presence. He will be greatly missed for his kind loving nature, his persistent, outgoing personality and his zest for life.
He is survived by Jeanette, his wife of 55 years; daughters, Mary Rose Fahlman and Diane Ford; son, Joseph (Katie) Pace, Jr.; grandchildren, Caitlyn (Bill Rademacher) Fahlman, Karlie Fahlman, Blake Ford, Annalyse, and Grant Pace; brother, Loreto “Larry” (Maria) Pace and many dear nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter Paul and Rose as well as twelve siblings.
Visitation will be held at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 600 East Main St. Brighton on Wednesday April 19, 2017 from 3 - 8PM, with a Rosary at 7 PM.
Funeral Mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2099 N Hacker Rd, Howell, on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 11 AM with gathering beginning at 10AM. The Rev. Fr. Francis George to officiate. Burial Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.
In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Angela Hospice, 14100 Newburgh Rd, Livonia, MI 48154 or to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 3 International Drive, Suite 200, Rye Brook, NY 10573.
For further information phone Lynch & Sons, Brighton at 810-229-2905.
