Joseph Bufalino

Joseph Patrick Bufalino, 96, of Erie died Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at Golden Living Center-Walnut Creek. He was born at home in Pittston, PA on October 28, 1919 the youngest son of the late Rosario and Vincenza (Baiera) Bufalino.
Joseph attended Pittston High School and worked for his brothers in the bottling business in Pittston and Meadville. On a delivery trip to Erie he met his future wife Alvina Pedano at her father’s grocery store located on 18th and Cherry, what was known as” Little Italy”. They were married on November 18, 1943 and just celebrated their 72nd anniversary in 2015.
Joe and Alvina (Vita) resided in Meadville then moved to Erie to run Pedano’s Grocery Store and in 1950 opened Bufalino’s Meat Market just south of 29th and Peach St.
In 1973 he bought South Erie Beer and retired in 1983 and wintered in Clearwater, FL. In 1993 he came out of retirement to again take over South Erie Beer and finally retired in 2001 at the age of 82.
Joe had a work ethic that was unparalleled and he was an example to all who knew him. Gardening and cooking consumed his free time which he enjoyed throughout his life. His gardens were beautiful and the food he prepared was without equal. Anyone who had the privilege to enjoy his cooking will attest. In the last three years he became known as “Big Papa” to his two great-granddaughters.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Sam; a grandson Lincoln Daniel Bufalino; and three brothers, Charles, Angelo, and Sam Bufalino.
Joseph is survived  by his wife, Alvina Pedano Bufalino; three children, R. Joseph Bufalino (Sherry) of Edinboro, PA; Janet Marie Bufalino, Ph.D. of Shippensburg, PA and Mary Alice Kurtzhals (Dean) of Girard, PA.; a brother, James Bufalino of Conneautville, PA; a sister Caroline Forlizzi of Tarpon Springs, FL along with three grandchildren; Joseph Rosario Buffalino (Carrie Fitch), Andrew Baker Bufalino (Sara Simmons) of Edinboro and Natalie Ann Saunders of Shippensburg, PA. Also surviving are two great-granddaughters, Macie Weber Bufalino and Sophia Elizabeth Bufalino along with many nieces and nephews.
Friends are invited to call at the John J. Quinn Funeral Home, West 9th & Liberty St. on Friday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM and are invited to attend Prayer Services there Saturday at 9:30 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM in St. Joseph/Bread of Life Catholic Church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lincoln Daniel Bufalino Foundation Scholarship Fund, Andover Bank, 212 Plum St., Edinboro, PA 16412.