Paolo Ficara

Paolo Ficara, 79, passed away at his home with his wife and children by his side on February 17th, 2025. The family is deeply saddened by his death.
Paolo is survived and missed by his loving wife of 54 years, Pina Ficara; his children, Pino, Nino and Paolo Jr., and their respective wives, Rachel, Jaime and Brandi.
He will be forever cherished and remembered by his seven grandchildren, Elliot, August, Briella, Dean, Luca, Sam and Elinor, and by his brother Ignazio.
His memory lives on with his brothers-in-law, Andrea, Mercurio and Angelo, and his sisters-in-law, Rosa, Roberta, Maria Fiorella, Paola and ,Pinuccia and their respective families.
Paolo was preceded in death by his parents, Pellegrino and Rosa, and his brother, Gioacchino.
Paolo grew in Ribera, Sicily, working on a small family farm with his father and brothers along the Verdura River. As a young man while continuing to work at the family farm, Paolo attended the Institute Tecnico Agrario in Sciacca. He graduated at the top of his class with a degree in agronomy. Following his military service in the Italian army, he immigrated to Montreal, Canada, where he eventually met the love of his life, Pina.
Early in their marriage Paolo and Pina moved several times before moving their young family, along with his mother, his brothers and their families, to southern California, where they would ultimately settle. They spent the next 40 years creating memories in Joshua Tree, on top of a very special hill, where they raised their children and entertained and cared for their true passion, their grandchildren.
Paolo was an entrepreneur, a business owner, an author, a healer, but most of all an inspiration and guiding light for all of those close to him. He was fortunate to have traveled the world with Pina and touched the lives of many along the way. Upon his death, his family received condolences from friends and family across the globe, spanning many countries and four different continents.
As a grandfather, Paolo took an active role in the lives of his grandchildren. He taught them how to cook, how to garden, but most of all how to be good humans and appreciate what we have in life. Paolo was never scared to take on new challenges and approached all aspects of his life with honesty and integrity.
He had very strong values and was well-liked by those he met, mostly due to his positive energy. Paolo took the time to help others, advocating that we reap what we sow. He believed firmly that we all have the ability to control our own destiny and that our thoughts manifest in our existence. Consequently, he favored being mindful of our thoughts, believing that what we plant in our heads would grow to become our reality, be that positive or negative.
His legacy will carry on forever, reminding us that we can control our attitudes and we can choose to live a life of meaningful acts of love and service. He was a shining light in the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him. His journey on this earth was one marked by love, compassion, and unwavering devotion to his family.
His passing has left a void in the hearts of his family, friends and many more whose lives were touched by him. We ask that you remember him for the way he lived life and for the profound impact he had on the lives of those who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Paolo was truly a man of his community in the fullest sense of those words - he was a supremely kind, jovial, warm-hearted person who always sought the most meaningful and honest connection with every person he encountered. Paolo didn't just meet you, he tried to bond with your spirit.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our family, friends, Scripps Memorial Hospital, Dr. Daniel Given and Elizabeth Hospice for doing everything they could during these difficult times to help him and prepare his family for the difficult road that lies ahead.
A celebration of life service to honor the life of Paolo Ficara will be held and will be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, The American Heart Association or The Elizabeth Hospice.