John Joseph AMICARELLA

1939 - 2017

AMICARELLA, John Joseph
(Age 78)

On July 18, 2017 John was ready to "leave town" after courageously battling cancer for seven years. He was born March 11, 1939 and was the beloved first-born son to Jerry and Peggy Amicarella (Bombino). He was raised in the Minnehaha (Little Italy) area of Spokane, where he stayed and raised his own family just three blocks away from his childhood home. John's first friends were all of his wonderful cousins, expanding then to Cooper and Rogers schoolmates, then moving onto his fraternal buddy's at Burlington Northern Railroad where he worked until retirement as a hostler. He kept family and friendship ties alive by making his daily rounds in the neighborhood visiting his many aunts, uncles, cousins, kids, grandkids, and friends. John married Nora (O'Hara) in 1958. Their marriage lasted 40 years but their friendship continued sharing in love and respect for family, friends, and the holidays.
Johnny always kept busy and was quite talented with his many projects and interests. He loved gardening and cooking his favorite Italian foods. His real home was his shop where he was very skilled and could build or fix anything. He loved all things mechanical, especially cars. As a young man he raced cars, then owned a service station where he fixed cars with a "lifetime guarantee". He restored and proudly won prizes for his many antique cars. He also restored boats he used for fishing with friends and family. There was nothing better than his fishing trips when he cruised on Lake Roosevelt or Koocanusa where only his old crooner music was allowed. But his biggest interest was helping and hanging out with his kids and grandkids, offering his advice with the loving expression of "Now listen to me".
Johnny lived a full life but was not yet done when cancer came calling. He leaves behind a very large and sad group of people; his sister Patti Moore (Bill) and brother Bill Amicarella (Janet). John and Nora have three living children; son Jerry (Ginny) their children Peggy, Tia (Aaron) and grandchildren, Hannah and Maya; daughter Patti Murray (Norm) their children, Megan, Matthew, and granddaughter Gianna; son Robert with his children: John, Tori, and Jordan (Curtis), grandchildren: Aidrian, Parker, and Blakelyn. He also leaves behind an extensive list of true lifetime friends plus a large family tree of aunts, cousins, nieces, and nephews, with whom there was always a mutual adoration.
John spent his last 18 years with his loving companion Arlene Caferro, enjoying together a trip to Italy, car shows, and fishing in their golden years.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 330 E. Boone, on Wednesday July 26th at 1:00 p.m. We will then all go to Holy Cross Cemetery, 7200 N. Wall St., where at 3:00pm he will be laid to rest with many relatives and his infant son Michael. Following the burial you are invited to help celebrate John's life at Mamma Mia's Restaurant.
Heartfelt thanks to the many wonderful staff and physicians at Cancer Care Northwest, Northwest Pain Care, and Horizon Hospice who did everything they could to make his journey as easy as possible. In honor of our father, donations may be made in his memory to CCNWF.org and Horizon Hospice. Arrangements have been entrusted to: