Joseph (Joe) Phillip Guardalabene, aged 84, of Mesa Arizona, long-time former resident of Elmhurst and Villa Park, Illinois, died peacefully on March 22 in Scottsdale, Arizona after a short illness. Youngest son of Italian immigrant, Agostino Guardalabene, and Rosalia Muriello, Joe grew up working in his family’s cheese factory, Park Farm Cheese, and was an entrepreneur most known for his trucking company, Guardalabene Cartage. Even in retirement, Joe had a passion for making his own ricotta cheese. He was an avid car collector with a penchant for Cadillacs and even owned a Model T pickup, which delighted neighborhood kids who would pile in for a ride. Joe loved growing up in Elmhurst with many of his close family members living on the same block.
He was predeceased by his parents and siblings, Marino, Nic, Frank, and Josephine (Allegretti), and is survived by his sister, Rose (Hughes) and his immediate family.
Joe was a devoted and caring husband to Mary (Husfield) Guardalabene for 64 years; a deeply beloved father of daughters, Peggie Costello of Downer’s Grove, Joan (David) Pasquesi of Chicago, and Gina (Joe) Hendren of Scottsdale; Grandfather to 8 (Rosalia, Giancarlo, Luca, Kiley, Joey, Marino, Nic and Sam); and beloved uncle and cousin to many. Everyone who knew him knew he was a kind and gentle person.
Private entombment: Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, IL.
