Joseph George Congedo's Obituary
CONGEDO, Joseph George, age 93, of Xenia, passed away Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.
Joe was born in Brooklyn, New York to Anna Crivelli and Emanuel Congedo. Joe graduated from New Utreche High School, class of 1948. He earned a BS in Biology from St. Francis College. Following graduation, Joe honorably served in the United States Navy, stationed on three destroyers during the Korean War.
Joe attended St. Bernadette Catholic Church where he met his first wife, Charlotte Caggiano. They married in 1953, and over the next eight years, they had three children, Joe, Jeffrey, and Julie.
Joe worked a long career in pharmaceutical sales, beginning at Richardson Merrell in New York. His job caused Joe and his family to move around the country. A promotion brought Joe to his home office in Cincinnati in 1967, where he would stay for 23 years. While at Merrell, Joe was well respected and won numerous awards.
Joe married Patty Neumann in 1987, and they moved with Patty’s daughters to Middletown, Ohio. Joe’s job took the family to Leawood, Kansas and Waltham, Massachusetts before finally settling back in Ohio. Following the decision to retire, they moved to Xenia and restored their 1869 home before moving to their present location in Beavercreek.
Joe loved crossword puzzles and reading novels, especially those by John Grisham and James Patterson. He also enjoyed Ocean’s Eleven and the Godfather series, which he watched many times. His favorite singers were Frank Sinatra and Lucy Thomas. For Joe’s 93rd birthday, he attended Andrea Bocelli, one of his favorite opera singers of all time. He recently acquired a taste for the Grateful Dead. Joe also enjoyed Churchill-size cigars, which he became known for. Joe and Patty loved to travel, especially to Palm Desert and family trips to Hilton Head, South Carolina. Good friends, Sue and Hish Shtayyeh and Pat and Bill Samuels, often joined them for these trips. While traveling, they loved to stop at casinos, and Joe especially enjoyed the slot machines.
Kind, generous, and polite, Joe was a loyal friend and a good listener. He had a great laugh and speaking voice and was also a talented dancer. At the end of his life, he wanted nothing more than to get to know his family better. He was so proud of his children and step-children. Among many things, Joe will be remembered for his great advice when solicited.
Joe was preceded in death by his grandson, Samuel Jessen; his parents, Emanuel and Anna Congedo; and one brother and sister-in-law, Emanuel (Judy) Congedo. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Patty; two sons, Joseph (Nancy) Congedo and Jeffrey (Kimberly) Congedo; one daughter, Julie (Marcus) Fowler; three step-children, Marnie Neumann, Susan (Jose) Laboy, and Katie (Chris) Jessen; grandchildren, Jared, Vinnie, Mariah, Oliver, Joshua, Claire, Antonio, and Gabriella; and great-grandchildren, Raelyn, Roman, Troy, Nolan, and Addison.
The family will receive friends from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM on Saturday, November 30, at Conner and Koch Funeral Home in Bellbrook. A celebration of life service will immediately follow the visitation at 11:30 AM at the funeral home. Chris Jessen will be officiating the service. Burial will follow at Bellbrook Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages an act of kindness to be performed in Joe’s honor. In addition, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Smile Train, or Salvation Army. Condolences at www.connerandkoch.com.
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