Joseph Ancona

Joseph Ancona, Kansas City, Mo., passed away on March 4, 2008. He was born on March 24, 1919, in Kansas City, Mo. Joe was a lifelong Kansas City resident. Joe attended Karnes School and graduated from Northeast High School. Joe bonded with many friends in school and on the baseball diamond. He later was drafted into the Navy during World War II. While achieving an Honorable Discharge from the Navy, he was sent home for surgery. During his recuperation he met the love of his life, Catherine Patti. They were married and raised their family together for the next 61 years. Joe was a wholesale florist for 47 years in the Kansas City area. Joe was employed at Stuppy Floral, Schmidt and Klaus (were he worked for 15 years) and Denver Wholesale Florist. He was active in all of the churches were he lived: St. John the Baptist, Assumption, St. Anthony's and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Joe loved to sing in the choir and also sang at many weddings. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Phillip and Teresa (Bruno) Ancona, daughter Anita, and brother John. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Catherine (Patti) Ancona; daughters and sons-in-law Phyllis and Gary Atkinson, Robertsdale, Ala., Mary and Paul Gessler, Kansas City, Mo.; sons and daughters-in-law Joseph and Karen Ancona, Overland Park, Kan., Jim and Carole Ancona, Scottsdale, Ariz.; grandchildren Brian Kibler, Adam Ancona and Alex Ancona; great grandchildren Natalie, Breahana and Bret Kibler; sister Frances Del Percio; sister-in-law Rose Ancona; brother-in-law and sisters-in- law, Victor and Elsie Patti, Lee Rizzo; and many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. The family would like to thank the great care given by Dr. Carrie Lehr, Dr. Tim Blackburn, Dr. Cosmo Caruso and Dr. Peter Holt. The family would also like to thank the nurses at St. Joseph Hospital Floor 5 South and the staff at Kansas City Hospice for their care and support. The family suggests donations to St. Jude Children's Hospital Cancer Research, Memphis, Tenn., and Kansas City Hospice. A viewing will be from 3-7 p.m. Friday, March 7, with the rosary beginning at 7 p.m., at Passantino Bros. Funeral Home, 2117 Independence Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64124. A viewing will also be from 9-10 a.m. Saturday at the Cathedral prior to Mass. The Mass of the Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday, March 8, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 12th and Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64105. Burial will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Raytown, Mo. Pallbearers: John Del Percio, Phillip Caccioppo, Brian Kibler, Nino Bruno, Mark Pasley and John Rellihan. (Arr.: Passantino Bros. Funeral Home, 816-471-2844.)