Joseph J. Paoletti

Joseph J. “Joey” Paoletti, age 69, of Wilmington, Delaware, born on August 21, 1955, passed away at his home on Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Joseph graduated from Thomas McKean High School, Wilmington, Delaware in 1974.  While at McKean, he played the drums and participated in cross country.  Following high school, he and his friend, Mark, went into business together and operated a Mr. Pizza Shop on Academy Street in Newark, Delaware.  Through the years, Joey worked in different pizza shops, with Pizza Pro being the last, and very much enjoyed that line of work.

Joey was interested in real estate.  He successfully completed his real estate training, passed the state exam and received his Delaware Real Estate License. 

Joey was involved in the martial arts, particularly taekwondo and karate, and had his brother, James and sister, Louise, participate in classes with him.  He also had an interest in the stock market and enjoyed playing the lottery.  Joey enjoyed working in his yard, reading the newspaper, going to various stores, reminiscing through new and old photo albums, and talking on the phone with his cousin, Jerry.

Joey became his mother’s devoted care giver from 2013 – 2017.  He was a loving and caring person who always selflessly helped his family.  He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his nieces and great niece.  Joey taught Michelle to ride a bike, went with her on walks at the park, caught butterflies, planted a tree from school, provided her with an allowance, drove her to school, rewarded her for good report cards, and assisted her with parallel parking.  Joey let Louise cut his hair before she earned her cosmetology license, when she was a young girl he took her along to test drive a Jaguar, and taught her self-defense techniques.  He and Louise also enjoyed walks together, introduced her to stocks and finances, provided her with an allowance, drove her to school during her senior year with daily stops at Starbucks, assisted with homework and rewarded her for good report cards.  Joey enjoyed visits from Tulip, and the two would lovingly share their snacks with each other.  He would let her use his magnifying glass and she had fun acting as a detective inspecting pennies and many other items.  She would also draw pictures for him, which he cherished.

Joseph was predeceased by his parents, Fabio and Josephine (Ercole) Paoletti; his sister, Jeannette Paoletti; his brother, James J. Paoletti; his brother and sister-in-law, Angelo J. and Lorraine Paoletti.

Joseph is survived by his sister, Louise McDowell; his niece and goddaughter, Michelle A. McDowell; his niece, Louise J. McDowell and her daughter, Tulip; his niece, Stephanie N. Paoletti; his former brother-in-law, Michael McDowell.

We love him and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Family and friends are invited to visit at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Road, Pike Creek on Monday, April 28 from 4:00 – 6:00PM.  A Catholic funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, April 29 at 10:30AM, immediately followed by interment at Cathedral Cemetery.

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