Devoted Husband, Father, Grandfather & everyone's friend, Joseph Fumando, 80, a lifelong SI resident passed peacefully on March 3, 2023 surrounded by loved ones.

Born Joseph Carl Fumando in July,1942 to the parents of Frances Marusak & Dominick Fumando, he grew up in Elm Park where he was a student of PS 18 and longtime parishioner of St. Adalbert's Church. Later years he moved to Castleton Corners where he spent 30+ years with his family and then moved to Westerleigh where he last resided.

In 1967 through his friend, Billy, (who would later become his brother-in-law) he met, Lyle Ludlow - who he affectionally referred to as 'Lolly'. From that moment on, she became the Love of his Life & they married in May of 1969, celebrating 53 years of marriage. Together they raised three beautiful children Lisa, Joseph & Debbie and built a beautiful strong family bond that's everlasting. He loved dogs as much as people & spent 16 years with his buddy Max, his best friend that pre-deceased him & would or could never replace.

In Joe's late 20's he spent a short while as a security officer for the Institute of Basic Research, It wasn’t until he found his true passion as a painter. He was a former employee of both Sailor Snug Harbor SI & Trinity Church NYC. A provider and protector of his family, he gave his all. He watched both his children & grandchildren grow into the loving, caring people they are today. He was an avid fan of each of them and enjoyed countless moments watching and attending the activities of all his children & grandchildren whether it was baseball, soccer, or a dance recital.

Joe had the gift of gab, never at a loss for words whether he knew you or not. You were now his friend for life.
He loved to talk, talk, talk and talk. On occasion his wife would have to gently tug his ear saying Joe 'come up for air'.
Joe loved everyone and everyone loved Joe!

In his younger years, Joe enjoyed hunting, where he made yearly hunting trips with his buddies up at the cabin. He loved a good meal. He also had a passion for cooking and would often idle over a hot stove cooking up some Venison stew, Venison meatballs or just a good ole piece of Venison steak.

Joe's love for the sea had no limits. He enjoyed popping open his fold up chair, casting a fishing line and setting up his crab traps while patiently waiting the catch of the day. Salt life is where he sought solace from the daily grind and occasionally enjoyed a cold brew.

Joe had many passions in life - gardening was one of them. He always made sure to water his flowers, not too much, not too little – it had to be just right. He enjoyed the taste of a good glass of Scotch - with just a little splash of water and an occasional anisette flavored cigar. He enjoyed dancing and each time he made his way to the dance floor he became the Energizer Bunny. Joe would outlast everyone. His favorite genre was by far Doo Op. He had an old school heart. that loved Musicals, Broadway shows & was a life-long NY Yankees Fan.

Joe was a frequent visitor to the Casino, one of his all-time happy places. Joe loved to take road trips, travel to new places. He enjoyed his Sunday football & early on was a San Francisco 49ers Fan but that switched to whoever was winning & they became his favorite 'new' team. But most of all, his greatest accomplishment was his family, whom he loved to be around and spend time with. Joe had a competitive side when it came to playing his Rummi Kube and would always make sure you mixed up the tiles good and that he won a game or two, otherwise he would swear you didn't mix them good enough.

Joe was an original. He had his own lingo & vocabulary that his family & friends had grown to know & fondly adore through the years. Always a smile, upbeat with such charismatic charm. Joe would brighten up any cloudy day. He had a strong presence, a dapper well-dressed man who commanded a room. A true gentleman. His bark was always worse than his bite.

He is survived by his beautiful wife, Lyle a/k/a "Lolly". His brothers Michael Huminski and Paul Fumando. His loving children Lisa Fumando, Joseph Fumando (wife Jennifer) and Deborah Ippolito (Husband Joe). Six loving grandchildren, Steven, Christopher, Gianna, Alexandra, Guiliana & JoJo and countless extended family and friends.

Joe lived every day to the fullest and wouldn't have lived any other way. In the words sung by Frank Sinatra - Joe definitely lived his life 'Joe's way'.