Obituary of Joseph Sforza

Joseph Sforza, 91, passed away on September 23, 2013 in Crouse Community Center, Morrisville, where he and his wife, Elsie, have resided since July 1, 2013. Mr. Sforza was born at home in the Town of Frankfort, New York on April 6, 1922, a son of the late Carlo and Marie Stella Perrino Sforza who had emigrated to the United States from Italy. In 1930 his parents purchased a farm on Stoney Brook Road in Verona where Mr. Sforza grew up and attended local schools. His love for the farm, which he and Elsie eventually purchased and operated until his retirement from business, endured throughout his lifetime. Joseph and Elsie Jean Hickernell of Middletown, Pennsylvania married on January 15, 1944 in St. Helena's Church, Sherrill. They were major contributors to a book centered on recipes and stories of Sforza family life, AN ITALIAN FAMILY REUNION COOKBOOK. Published by St. Martin's Press in New York in 1981, it was a selection of the Italian-American Historical Society that year. With his three older brothers away in the service during World War II, Mr. Sforza assisted his father with farm operations and was a civilian employee of the Air Force as an aircraft maintenance specialist at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York and Olmsted Air Force Base in Middletown, Pennsylvania. After the war, he became an operating engineer working on the development of the Thruway and the St. Lawrence Seaway. His later business interests included Permanent stainless steel cookware, Olivetti office equipment, and automotive companies in Syracuse and Rochester. He retired as president of the Garnan Corporation of Rochester. He greatly enjoyed staying active, especially by resuming the U-pick strawberry season every June at the farm, and by part-time employment as a contract driver for Upstate Home Care and Roberts Express. Survivors in addition to his wife are four daughters: Gail (Gene) Krebs of Cazenovia and Lenk-im-Simmental, Switzerland; Camille Sforza Holian of Syracuse; Linda (Wells) Tooke of Canastota; and Beth (Steve) Yazell of Oneida. He was also grandfather to Matthew, Gregory, Megan, Marisa, Ginevra, Daniel, Amy, Cornelia, Heidi, Wellsey, Thomas, Ian, Elizabetta, Francesca, Elle, Helena, Natalie, Aidan, and Cassandra; great-grandfather to Andrew, Autumn, Amber, Alexander, Brook, Guy, Traver, Albert, Elijah, John, and Steven; great-great grandfather to Elija; and brother to two surviving sisters: Ann (the late Robert) Usborne of Sherrill, and Mildred (the late Donald) Yeman of Elmira Heights. Brothers and sisters who predeceased him were: Michael (Rose and Josephine) of Utica, Vito (Jane) of Los Angeles, Aioley (Helen) of Vernon, Esther (Fred) Montalbano of Verona, and Antoinette (Raymond) Winterton of Durhamville and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Cremation arrangements for Joseph Sforza are being handled by A. Dewitt Memorial Funeral Homes and Cremation Services of Syracuse. A funeral Mass for Mr. Sforza will take place on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at noon at St. Helena's Church, Sherrill, New York.