Joseph (Joe) Emanuele of Lewes DE died at age 65 Thursday, April 17, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Brooklyn in 1959 to Charles and Phyllis Emanuele into a large Italian family. In 1966, he moved with his parents and two sisters to Hazlet, NJ, where he would grow up attending St. Benedict School and St. John Vianney High School. He spent his childhood as an altar boy, playing little league, watching Star Trek, loving the NY Mets, and the NY Rangers.  Family was central to his childhood and some of his fondest, most cherished memories were of the time spent with his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins on weekends, family vacations and holidays. As a teenager in the 70s, his love for music and electronics emerged as the house often shook from Led Zeppelin blaring from the stereo system he built from a Heath Kit.  Growing up with two sisters, Joe found his “brotherhood” at college, attending Stevens Institute of Technology and making lifelong friends through his fraternity and graduating as an electrical engineer. These formative experiences would become the foundation of his adult life.

Nothing made him happier or prouder than the family he built with the love of his life, Florinda Confuorto (Flo). They moved to Freehold, NJ where they would raise their two children – Maria – his “Princess” and their son, Charlie. He was a devoted husband and an extraordinary father and indoctrinated them to all of his passions.  The kids played ball and they are a family of avid Mets fans and crazed Ranger fans to this day. Their house was filled with music – Flo was an accomplished pianist, both Maria played piano and Charlie became an impressive guitar player.  While Joe didn’t play, he shared his love for music with his family and attended numerous concerts together. He enjoyed a successful career in Business Development retiring from Stellant Technologies, requiring significant travel, which he greatly enjoyed.  He also travelled extensively with his family, frequenting Aruba and Italy and taking numerous adventures abroad. Embodying a culture where love is synonymous with food and family, Joe loved to cook, and nothing made him happier than sharing a good meal and a bottle of wine (or scotch) with people he loved. Holidays were an especially happy time when he would quite literally spend all night cooking for Christmas and the house was filled with everything he loved – family, food, wine, music, and laughter.

Most recently, he “retired” to Lewes DE where he unsurprisingly made more dear friends.  He spent his time as Pop Pop by the pool with his grandchildren, playing poker and pool with Charlie and “the boys” and spending time with the people he loved. He would often extend a toast and say “Life is Good” and he meant it – His life was wonderful and he valued every minute, every person and every memory.

Joe was a kind, good man; devoted to his faith and his family, a friend to everyone he met, loved by everyone who was blessed to have him in their life.  He lived a life that mattered so deeply to so many. Joe lived a life of love.

Joe is survived by Florinda, his loving wife of 32 years, his “Princess” Maria (Ethan) Skinner, his son Charlie (Marissa) Emanuele, grandchildren Ella and Enzo Skinner and “Baby Joey” (due 6/2025), as well as his sisters, Chris (Tim) Murphy and Patty (Peter) Inglese.

Visitation will be Tuesday, April 22, 4:00 – 8:00 pm at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 South Holmdel Road, Holmdel.  Funeral service will be Wednesday, April 23, 9:00 am at the funeral home. Entombment will follow in Marlboro Mausoleum.