Mr. Joe (Giuseppe) Catroppa age 65 years, a resident of Thunder Bay, Ontario passed away peacefully on April 14, 2016 with family by his side.
Joe is survived by his wife of 41 years, Christine Catroppa; children Jolene and Rachel; grandson Rylan; sister Rita Nardi; niece Maria Dollery (Nardi) and nephews Pasquale and Jerry Nardi.
Joe was born on August 19, 1950 in Spadola, Calabria, Italy to Gerardo Catroppa and Maria Rosa Tassone. Joe was raised and educated in Thunder Bay, ON and attended Hammarskjold High School, Confederation College where he earned a General Business diploma and D.W.S diploma, and Lakehead University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree and achieved a double major in Psychology and Sociology.
Joe married Christine Owen on May 18, 1974. The couple welcomed their first daughter Jolene Catroppa in November 1980 and their second daughter Rachel Catroppa in March 1988. His children remember their father as a funny, loving guy.
Joe worked 17 years for the North West Regional Centre at the LPH helping and caring for others. He was also employed with The Ministry of Municipal and Corporate Affairs from 1992 until he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in October, 2008.
Joe loved his career, enjoyed his friends/co-workers and had a loyal dedication to OPSEU, his union. Joe felt privileged to serve members of Region 7 and across Ontario as an Executive Board Member.
Joe was accomplished and loved playing his guitar; he was a dedicated individual who loved wrestling, playing pool and baseball with his many friends.
Family and friends are invited to a Luncheon Gathering to celebrate the life of Joe on Friday, April 22, 2016 in the Reception Hall of Harbourview Funeral Centre, 499 North Cumberland Street, between 11:00 and 1:00 p.m. with a Service to begin at 12:00 Noon presided by Chaplain Velda Williams-Sande. As expressions of sympathy in lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer Society or Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation-Northern Cancer Fund would be appreciated.
