St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105

Joseph Candela passed away Thursday July 4th in Jupiter Florida at the age of 83. Joseph was born in New York hospital on January 15, 1941 to his parents Adeline and Salvatore Candela. He was raised in Harlem until relocating to the Bronx with his parents, brothers Ralph and Salvatore and sister Barbara where he attended Evander Childs High School. Joseph served his Country by joining the United States Army in 1960 and was honorably discharged in 1962. He started his professional career in the Local 28 Sheet metal union around the time he was starting his personal life, marrying his wife Irene of 59 years. Together they raised their family, daughters Yvonne and Maureen and son Gary in Bethpage NY where they would call home for 53 years. Due to a tough economy, he left the sheet metal union and ambitiously started a roofing company, Candela Construction, which thrived for 30 years and employed many young people from the neighborhood. Some of his many other accomplishments in life include receiving a fifth degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate as well as a Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu. Later in life Joseph went back to school and became a licensed Massage Therapist where he used his knowledge of martial arts pressure points and holistic therapies to run another successful small business. He was a natural athlete and completed 2 triathlons after the age of 45. To know him was to love him, whether you knew him as Joe, JoJo or Mr. “C”. Of all Joe’s accomplishments he took the most pride in being a grandfather to his three grandsons Nolan, Jack and Nicky. “Grandpa Joe” was truly his favorite name. Joseph was preceded in death by both his parents, his sister Maureen and his brother Sal “Sally boy” Candela. He is survived by his beloved wife, his three children and three grandchildren as well as many others that loved him.