Joseph C. LaRocca

Joseph C. LaRocca, 73, passed away on Thursday, March 11, 2021, at Staten Island University Hospital North. Joe was born in Brooklyn, on June 10, 1947. He was a graduate of Lafayette High School, Long Island University with a Business major, and Brooklyn College with his Masters degree in psychology. Joe was a guidance counselor and math teacher at Susan E. Wagner HS, then Tottenville HS and Springfield Gardens HS in Queens. He and his wife Christine (Chris) opened ''LaRocca's Italian Ices and Pizzeria'' in 1987, and Joe was a pillar in the community where he was President of the Midland Beach Association for a few years, to help the community. Before too long, many people of all ages in the Midland Beach community knew they had a friend in Joe LaRocca. He loved using his counseling skills to help anyone he could, and he has written many articles for the Voice of Health magazine. LaRocca's closed directly after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Joe's favorite thing to do was spending time with his family. He shared his June 10th birthday with his Uncle Joe and loving cousins by the same name. His hobbies included ''picking a winner at the race track,'' playing cards was also a favorite pastime. Anyone who knows Joe would know how he loved his pet Beagles. Joe attended Our Lady Star of the Sea Church since 1999. In recent years, he formed a church group called, ''Sons and Daughters of Mary,'' which was born out of his desire to unify as many parishioners as would like to participate in sharing and caring, as well as helping anyone in need. He and some of the members would walk together while praying for the needs from local issues to the world's, including abortion, the homeless, Covid victims, and so on. Joe's big desire in life was to help people and to show love to the lost and unloved. Anyone who knew him knew they had a friend for life. He was known for being the guy who could do the impossible. He was the beloved husband of 51 years to Christine LaRocca. Loving father to Louis and Michael LaRocca. Fond father-in-law to Rajami and Olivia LaRocca. Devoted grandfather to Joe, Mira, Rafael, Alex, Nick and Isabella and dear brother to Elizabeth Centauro and Dianne Etri. Joseph is also surivived by many loving nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 1-5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 and from 5-9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at the John Vincent Scalia Home For Funerals, Inc., 28 Eltingville Blvd. (at Eltingville Station), Staten Island, New York. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church located at 5411 Amboy Road Staten Island, New York 10312. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Staten Island, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe's memory may be made to the North Shore Animal League, Louie�s Legacy, Animalsanctuarysociety.org or any animal shelter that can use the help. Please be mindful due to the current State mandate that a mask must be worn at all times in the funeral home and social distancing requirements must be followed during the services. Due to the current Pandemic a strict 50 person in room policy is in effect, as well as a maximum of 300 people permitted in Church. Please adhere to this policy and allow others to pay their respects as well. Due to the current pandemic circumstances please note: We do not accept deliveries from outside vendors for bakery products, fruit baskets, and floral arrangements until further notice. Floral Arrangements can be purchased from our in house floral designers who work under the most stringent sanitary conditions which include temperature checks, mask wearing, distancing and protective clothing. You can call 718-948-2016 and place your order. We must protect the families we serve, our own families and staff who operate the funeral home.

Joseph C. LaRocca

June 10, 1947 - March 11, 2021