Joseph "Joe Stretch" Ferriola

Joseph Ferriola (Joe “Stretch”) of Durham, died June 21, 2009 at Duke Medical Center after an unexpected and brief illness. He was 86 years old. Joe was born in Passaic, NJ in 1922 to Salvatrice (Kate) and Nicolo Ferriolo of Italy, and was the youngest of seven children. Joe changed his name from Ferriolo to Ferriola as a young man because he “thought it sounded better”. He trained as a printer and apprenticed in the U.S. Government Printing Office in Washington, DC from 1942-43 before serving in the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion from 1943-45. In 1950 he married Laurelie Helmick of Queens, NY. They lived on Long Island and in upstate New York before moving to North Carolina in 1994. He made many cherished friends in both the Five Oaks community of Durham, where he lived since 2003, and at Treyburn Country Club, where he worked for fourteen years before retiring in May 2009. He is survived by daughters, Jeralie Andrews of Bennett, NC and Patrice Ferriola of Chapel Hill; and grandchildren, Jene Kapela, Kailyn Andrews, and Zach, Kate and Emma Ferriola-Bruckenstein. He will be missed by his son-in-laws, David Bruckenstein and Robert Andrews. He is predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Laurelie, and siblings Vincent, Frankie, Tony, Fran, Vee, and Chris. Joe was devoted to his family and cherished his friendships, some extending back for more than 60 years. With a love for life and fun, Joe never missed an opportunity to tell a joke, sing a song, or take to the dance floor. Joe will be remembered by all as a kind and gentle man. A celebration of his life will take place on August 15, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at the Five Oaks Clubhouse (off of Pinecone Drive) in Durham, NC. Call 919-929-5802 for more information. Arrangements by Walker's Funeral Home, Chapel Hill.