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Joseph MELENDEZ Obituary
passed May 5, 2017 at Morton Plant Hospital after a three-month battle with brain cancer. Born December 5, 1984 in St. Petersburg, he was preceded in death by his father, Tomas Melendez and survived by his mother, Anna; siblings, Lucy, Thomas, Rachel, Ana, Jason, David, Antonio, Serafina, Daniel and Maria; and his life partner, Dacota Maphis.
Joseph will be best remembered for his selfless approach to life. It wasn't just his great love for family and friends, it was also his thoughtfulness, courtesy and strong work ethic that were core values and made him the great man people knew him to be. His detailed, well-constructed conversations about his passions: MMA, games, movies and their directors, along with sports and current affairs will also be missed. Joseph was also a lover of art, God, social justice and his privacy. Although Joseph died young, he had the good fortune and determination to travel three times a year for the last eight years. He worked as a fraud analyst at PSCU, which he dearly loved, along with the friendships he forged there.
We would like to invite you the Memorial Service: Central Park Performing Arts Center, 105 Central Park Drive, Largo, June 10, 7-9:30 pm. Also a service will be held 5 pm, June 11 at Faith Assembly, 3900 28th St N., St. Petersburg, 33714. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Clearwater Free Clinic.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joseph MELENDEZ
Sponsored by Dacota Maphis .
Donna Smart
May 31, 2018
My Dearest Joe it has been a whole year and I still cannot believe it. I think of you often so does Mike and My Mom. We miss your sweet smile and your love for all. I know God is keeping you close to him. You are such an Angel. I know we will see you again my dear sweet Joe. xoxo
Michael Smart
June 1, 2017
Joe,
You were my brother from day one I knew the first day that I met you in 9th grade in American History class that we were going to be friends for life. We shared so many things in common from video games, to music and games. I am so honored to have known you for 18 years of my life and by god it has been the best 18 years of my life. I would never have traded you for anything in this world. You were a great friend and did everything you could to be there for your friends and family, you would give the shirt off your back for anyone and that is what made you who you were, a great loving humble person. You may be gone physically in this world but you will always live on in my memories and my soul. It saddens me that your time was cut short but you don't have to suffer anymore and you can finally be at peace with your father and the Lord. Save me a seat in heaven as I am looking forward to meeting you again in the afterlife when my time passes from here. I love you Joe always and forever you showed me what it meant to live by God and help others in need and I will never forget that. You were not only the best friend anyone could ask for but you were by far the best brother and family that I could have ever asked to have come into my life. Rest well bro I hope you are having fun up above as you look down on all of us smiling.
Donna Smart
May 27, 2017
My Dearest Joe you were like one of my own children. It was always you, Devin and Mike. I remember taking all of you to the mall, movies etc. Picking all of you up from the mall or movies. You were such a great friend to my son Mike he was so glad when he got to go to St. Pete High and be able to meet you and Devin and Mike Jenkins. You gave so much joy to so many people. I was very honored to know you and your family. Thank you for bringing your love and joy into our family. God Bless you Joe. With much love and sadness in my heart rest in peace my dear sweet son.
Cheryl Colombo
May 24, 2017
I was privileged to have known this wonderful man and the world will miss him beyond measure. He was a great friend and enriched the lives of everyone he met. Your story wasn't finished, but I hope we all do you proud and take a page out of your book in how we choose to go on. Rest in peace, my friend.
Film Festival
An Artist and Rie
May 23, 2017
~We played once with film for a festival and talked about infamous movies. I was happy you went to the old world and traveled with your best friend. Years later you heard me play live music in a stage full of strangers and when it was over, I was happy to see you.
~I am sorry you never made it to Tokyo but with all sentiment,
there are other worlds, enjoy them. It was good to know you.
PS. You will always be my favorite sound man!
Shelly Powell
May 23, 2017
Oh, Joe, how we will miss you. You will be forever in our hearts and remembered as the wonderful, kind, peaceful man that you were. I will always remember you and Dacota at Jeremy's gigs, supporting him and his music. Your quiet and appreciative presence always made them more enjoyable and the music more deeply understood. Rest In Peace, dear Joe, for you so deserve it.
Robb Denney
May 23, 2017
Joe was as honest, humble, nice, genuine, and loyal as they come. I'm glad I was able to experience a friendship with him...and I wish I could have shared more days with him. I miss him, dearly...and I'll forever have those memories with me to remember him by. You are missed, my friend...very much so.
Dacota Maphis
May 23, 2017
My love you gave the best eight years of my life. Now I have you in everything that I touch and will cherish all the absorbsion of your personality that we melded. Thank you for letting me know what it feels like to be love, complete and more thoughtful of others. Forever yours
Jody R.
May 23, 2017
you will be missed
Jody R.
May 23, 2017
you will be missed
The Boys at Baywalk
Rik Lorenzo
May 23, 2017
Joseph was one of the best friends a man could ask for. He told you things how it was, and never held back his view but was always respectful about it. He opened your mind about things like traveling, art, music, food, and drinks. And through his experiences, he made you want to do more with your life. I will truly miss my dear friend. I hope he is at peace, and traveling this world and the next with his father, and enjoying everything he was not yet able to during his stay here.
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