Joe I. Palermo

Joseph I. Palermo, 86, of Lake Charles died Thursday night, February 4, 2016, after  bravely fighting a 6 year battle with cancer.  Joe leaves behind his beloved wife of 63 years, Dorothy Lee Vidrine Palermo; daughters, Brenda Nabours and husband Carl, Teri Broussard and husband Gerald; his daughter-in-law, Adele Palermo Hamer and husband Douglas and seven grandchildren, Karli Nabours, Chelsi Nabours Barfield and husband Robert, and Ali Nabours.  Also, Jessica Broussard Lowery and husband Israel, Taylor Broussard and fiancé Kristin Wright,  Morgan Broussard, and Amy Palermo Miller and husband Lee. Joe's greatest joy in the past few years were his five great grandchildren, Griffin and Olivia Lowery and baby girl on the way, Charlie and Wynn Miller and Finn Barfield.

He is joyfully reunited with his late son, Ronald Keith Palermo, his parents, Ignazio and Camelia Palermo and eight siblings.    

Born to Sicilian immigrants, Joe grew up in Goosport and inherited a strong work ethic at an early age while working in his papa’s grocery store.  Joe graduated from Lake Charles High in 1948, then worked as a fireman, even fighting the fire that destroyed his alma mater.  He proudly served in the National Guard for many years.  He was an instrument technician for 20 years at P.C.I. in the Cities Service Refinery.  He then became an instrument tech in the McNeese Chemistry Department.  He made many friends there and was very sought after to repair equipment in many departments.

Joe could fix ANYTHING and Dot always said, “He never stops!”  He was a carpenter his whole life, he built homes, boats, furniture.   He painted and  he created beautiful leaded glass pieces.  His artistic and creative skills found perhaps their greatest expression doing pottery for the last 25 years.  His works grace many homes.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and shrimping.  He was an excellent cook and everyone loved his BBQ sauce.  He was an instant favorite with any child he met with his old fashioned toys and his bird imitations.  

Joe’s lively sense of humor only sharpened with time.  He was a true gentleman and always went out of his way to help anyone in need.  He treated his wife, Dot, like a queen and they became inseparable over the years.   They traveled the world on McNeese Tours and with many priests, especially Msgr. Irving DeBlanc.  Joe was a money counter for OLQH parish.  He was sensitive, generous, and humble and a model Christian man.  He will be sorely missed by all who knew him, but especially by the family in which he took great pride.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 PM Saturday, February 06, 2016 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Monsignor Harry Greig will officiate. Interment will follow in Consolata Cemetery. Visitation Saturday will be from 10:00AM until 1:00 PM in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the OLQH School Building Fund.