JOSEPH F. "JOE" CARABETTA Sr.

1927 - 2025

CARABETTA, Joseph F. Sr. "Joe" A devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and visionary builder, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on March 4, 2025, at the age of 97. A lifelong resident of Meriden, Connecticut, Joe was the heart of a large and loving family and the architect of an enduring legacy. Joe met the love of his life, Evelyn (Bellante) Carabetta, with whom he shared 70 beautiful years of marriage. Together, they built a family rooted in love, tradition, and hard work, instilling in their children and grandchildren the values of perseverance, generosity, and integrity. He is survived by his beloved wife, Evelyn; and their children: Joseph, Jr. and his wife Anna, and their children Cristina, Joe, III, Johnny, Cecelia, and Celina; Salvatore "Sammy" and his children, Sammy, Jr., Nikolas, Anthony, Joe, Lili, and their mother, Niki; Evelyn "Kiki" and her son, JoJo; and JoAnn and her children, William "Bill" Johnson and his wife Jocelyne; Joseph and his wife Kelly Johnson; and Ashley and her husband Patrick Celella. He also leaves behind his brother-in-law, Elio Bellante; 7 great-grandchildren, 20 nieces and nephews, and many great-nieces and nephews. Joe was one of 10 siblings. He was predeceased by his parents, Victoria and Ralph; his brothers, Sam, Ralph "Sonny," Dominic, Michael, and Donald; and his sisters, Carmel, Rose, Josephine, and Catarina "Katie." Joe's young entrepreneurial spirit shone through by selling newspapers and shining shoes to help support his family. During World War II, he joined the Army Air Force. After, he began his career remodeling bathrooms, leading to single family home development. A pioneer of HUD programs, he revolutionized multifamily construction throughout New England. Then, he established an offsite precast system, allowing for the production of high-rises. Joe enlisted his brothers to establish the Carabetta Companies. His work was a lifelong passion, reflected in his 60+ weekly hours. He deeply valued everyone who helped bring his vision to life. He cared for those who worked for him, often going out of his way to ensure their well-being. Joe was a man deeply connected to his Italian roots. An avid gardener, he shared his harvest with those in need. He also took great pride in his farm, raising horses, cows, buffalo, pigs, pheasants, chickens, and peacocks. His legendary pig roasts always brought everyone together. One of Joe's favorite traditions was his annual family trip to Aruba. His generosity knew no bounds, supporting family, employees, and community. His love extended beyond his immediate family, making everyone he met feel welcomed. Though he has left this world, Joe's presence will be felt forever in the lives he touched, the family he cherished, and the legacy he built. His memory will live on in the buildings that stand tall, the traditions he passed down, and the countless stories of love and laughter shared by those who were fortunate to know him. The family would like to give a special thanks to all his caregivers. A celebration of life will be held at John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home, 88 East Main Street, Meriden, CT, with visiting hours on Tuesday, March 11th, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, March 12th at 11:30 am and all are requested to go directly to Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish, Mt. Carmel Church, 109 Goodwill Avenue, Meriden, CT. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, 250 Gypsy Lane, Meriden, CT. Joe will be forever missed, but never forgotten. Visiting Hours: 3pm to 7pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, at www.stjude.org/donate or Disabled American Veterans, 80 Hall Ave., Suite 801, Meriden, CT 06450.

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