Joseph J. Celentano

***** In Lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) or Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation (https://www.mlb.com/turn-2-foundation) would be preferred.

It is with sorrow and regret that we announce the death of Joseph J. Celentano.  Joe was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 12th, 1934. His parents, Lucy and Joseph Celentano, were hard working, independent and determined, providing the love, support and structure that saw them through some very challenging times.  They instilled in Joe and his siblings a strong belief in holding to traditions, spending time with family, respecting their parents, and honoring God and country.  Joe was the second of 3 children (Thomas and Mary Ann). 

Joe met his late wife Ann at the age of 16.  They were married at St. Frances de Chantal in 1956, and they spent 65 years together, sharing the love that they had for one another with friends and family, both far and wide.   Ann and Joe moved to Uniondale in 1960, where they raised five children in a home filled with tenderness and warmth. 

Joe was a pharmacist for many decades.  He owned and operated Arlo Drug Store in Massapequa Park for nearly all of his professional career, dispensing a very special kind of personal care and attention to his customers that made him a hallmark of the community.  He inspired many around him to seek careers in pharmacy and other fields of health care.

Joe was a man of depth and complexity.  He was both exceptionally social, and private.  Though words were sometimes hard for him to find, Joe wrote cards and letters with a concise richness and emotion that spoke volumes.  Joe was a proud Italian-American, observing the traditions and diversity of both cultures.  He was well-traveled, and he was also deeply grounded in home, in family and in community.  Joe could be a staunch traditionalist, and yet he was drawn at times to that which challenged the status quo.  The holiday season was always a time of great joy for Joe, especially Christmas.  He enjoyed the finer things in life, but was never boastful or haughty when doing so.  Joe appreciated many kinds of music, collected coins, and fervently studied American history.  He loved baseball and football, and in his early years he played roller hockey and handball with great skill and vigor. 

Joe will be remembered -- by so many whose lives he touched -- as a selfless and loving person.  His smiles and hugs conveyed a warmth and sincerity that went beyond words.  Joe was a gifted storyteller and he really knew how to tell a joke.  The timbre of his voice represented his genuine passion for life, and his laugh was contagious.
For years, Joe provided care and comfort to his dearly beloved wife Ann as they managed her chronic health condition.  The bond they shared, their unwavering respect and love, was a gift for others to witness.  Joe and Ann taught us what it means to make a marriage work.

Joe is survived by his five children (Ann and late husband Steven Banks, Joseph and wife Pnina Celentano, Donna and husband John Sloane, Michael and wife Angela Celentano, and John and wife Shelly Celentano), twelve grandchildren (Steven and wife Genevieve, Danny, Jessica and husband Kevin, Matthew, Katie and husband Peter, Frank, John Michael, Erin, Nicole, Lily, Dena and Leena), and eight great grandchildren (Grace, Nora, Eliana, Joseph, Anthony, Tessa, Aiden and Claire). 

Joe is also survived by his dear sister Mary Ann.  
 

What we once loved we can never lose.  

***** In Lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) or Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation (https://www.mlb.com/turn-2-foundation) would be preferred.

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