Joseph F. Laguzzi, 85, of Carbondale, PA, died Saturday, October 26, 2024 at Elan Skilled Nursing, Scranton, PA, after a lengthy illness. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Ann Marie McDonough on January 1, 2020.

Born June 25, 1939 in Carbondale, PA, he was the son of the late Samuel, Sr. and Theresa Ross Laguzzi.

Joe was a 1959 graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School, Carbondale, and then served in the Army for a year before transferring to the Pennsylvania Army National Guard for five years where he was a rifle squad leader, and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He had been employed as a machinist with National Standard and Cross Engineering of Carbondale, and later retired from the maintenance department of the Carbondale Area School District. Joe was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Carbondale.

Joe was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, where he especially enjoyed taking trips with his sons to Lake Ontario as well as deep-sea fishing trips. Joe also loved target shooting but his true passion was hunting. He had countless stories about his hunting adventures and he passed that passion for hunting on to his sons. Joe also owned an in-home gun store where he sold and repaired firearms, and occasionally would assist his son Joe with maintaining the firearms for the City of Carbondale Police Department. Joe also loved his Italian heritage and would annually help make soppressata with his sons and brothers, and always enjoyed assisting making homemade wine with his sons. He will be deeply missed by his loving beagle, Scout, who he enjoyed small game hunting with prior to his illness.

He is survived by two sons: Joseph P. Laguzzi and wife, Amy of Clifford Township, PA and David Laguzzi and wife, Kimberly of Scranton, PA; two grandchildren: Mia and Christopher Laguzzi; five brothers: Samuel Laguzzi, Jr. and wife, Patricia of Forest City, PA, Anthony Laguzzi of Browndale, PA, John Laguzzi and wife, Sharron, Thomas Laguzzi and wife, Gloria and Michael Laguzzi all of Carbondale, PA; two sisters: Angela Saltisiak and husband, Peter of Simpson, PA and Mary Wielebinski of Forest City, PA; a sister-in-law: Lucille McDonough of Carbondale, PA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by two sisters: Donna Laguzzi and Ann Marie Pauswinski; an infant brother: Frederick Laguzzi; and a sister-in-law: Jean Laguzzi.

Our family is also deeply grateful for the loving care provided by the staff at Elan Skilled Nursing, and the staff at Compassionate Care Hospice, especially hospice nurses Erin and Mona, who we cannot thank enough.

The funeral was held Thursday, October 31, 2024 from Carmine J. & Louis C. Parise Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 89 Farview Street, Carbondale, PA, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 15 Fallbrook Street, Carbondale, PA, celebrated by Rev. Seth Wasnock, pastor. Interment with military honors, Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Greenfield Township, PA.

Pallbearers: Joseph, David, Christopher, Steve & Kevin Laguzzi and Peter Saltisiak.

Viewing was held Thursday morning, October 31, 2024 from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Joe's name were made to either Griffin Pond Animal Shelter at www.griffinpondanimalshelter.com or Tunnel to Towers Foundation www.t2t.org. Both charities which help animals and wounded veterans were dear to Joe.