Joseph Porcaro Obituary

Joseph Ralph Porcaro

July 31, 1936 - March 16, 2025

With his loving family by his side, Joseph Ralph Porcaro, age 88, passed away peacefully on March 16, 2025. Joe was born in Racine, Wis., on July 31, 1936, to Herman and Irene (nee: Bencriscutto) Porcaro. He attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and graduated from St. Catherine's High School with the class of 1954.

Joe was serving locally as a medic in the National Guard when he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Judith Ann Hermes, on July 30, 1960. He was deployed to Fort Lewis, Wash. in the spring of 1962 where he spent 11 months.

Together, Joe and Judy raised four children, Paul, Pete, Perry, and Pam, and shared 65 beautiful years together. After several short-term jobs, in 1960, Joe began working at Judy's family's business, Hermes Hardware & Marine, and quickly became their boat and small motor specialist. He later became business partners there with his brother-in-law, Donald Hermes. After retiring from Hermes Hardware & Marine in 1985, Joe worked part-time as a bailiff for Racine County for over 15 years before fully retiring.

Joe was a member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. Joe will be remembered by his family and friends for his great love and devotion to his family; his quick wit, his disco parties that went late into Saturday nights, his extraordinary Christmas decorating and his impact on the Roma Lodge, including being a two-term president, long-time board member, captain of the Italian Festival Meatball Bomber booth for nearly 40 years and a fixture at Thursday night bingo for 25 years. He loved a big comfortable car for annual vacations with Judy to Florida, California, Nevada, or Mississippi. As the years went by, more and more of those trips included mandatory casino stops along the way. He also enjoyed playing golf and having Tuesday breakfasts with the guys. Even after his health prevented him from participating in many of the other things he had always enjoyed, his kids ensured he was still able to get to the casino until the very end.

Joe will be dearly missed by his wife, Judy; children: Paul (Cheryl) Porcaro, Peter Porcaro, Perry (Sue) Porcaro and Pamela (Brian Ebener) Porcaro; grandchildren: Nicholas (Elise) Galis, Vincent (Alyssa) Galis, and Paige Porcaro; great-grandson, Henry Valenza-Galis; siblings: David (Maryann) Porcaro, Nita (Tom) Bain, Dino (Sophia) Porcaro; brothers-in-law: Frank Maritato and Donald Hermes; nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Herman and Irene (Bencriscutto) Porcaro; his sister, Diane Maritato; sisters-in-law: Joyce (Harris) Hermes and Pauline (Paulus) Hermes; niece, Lisa (Maritato) Peterson; and great-nephew, Marcus Maritato.

The family would like to thank his nurses at Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital – Franklin who went above and beyond with the care and comfort they provided in his final days, especially Emily, Megan, Dawn and Kristin. The Christmas lights in his room were an amazing, special touch that the family will always remember.

A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, from 4 to 7 p.m. with a Roma Lodge Service at 6:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Joe's life will be held at 11 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 6400 Spring St. on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, with Rev. Marco Valentini officiating. A visitation will be held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. until time of Mass at the church. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

MARESH-MEREDITH AND ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME

803 MAIN ST RACINE, WI 53403

(262) 634-7888

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www.meredithfuneralhome.com