Submitted by: Dan Rich

Joseph R. Fotia

July 19, 1920 – Jan. 2, 1983

South Bend Tribune 1/3/1998

SOUTH BEND – Joseph R. Fotia, 62, of 1332 Mishawaka Avenue, died at 7:45 p.m. Sunday in St, Joseph Medical Center following a lengthy illness. He was co-owner of Fotia Supermarket in Mishawaka, and was also a former Wheelabrator-Frye Corporation employee, retiring in 1959. He was born July 19, 1920 in South Amboy, N.J., and lived in the South Bend area for 55 years, coming from New Jersey.

On Oct. 20, 1951, in South Bend he married Katharine DeBlase, who survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Miss Mary Fotia of South Bend; three sisters, Mrs. Francis Perri, Mrs. Rose Zappia and Mrs. Elizabeth Wullaert, all of Mishawaka; and two brothers, Dominic Fotia of Mishawaka and Frank Fotia of South Bend.

Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday in St. Anthony de Pauda Catholic Church, with Rev. Robert Yast, pastor, officiating. Entombment will be in Highland Mausoleum. Friends may call from 7 to 9 today and from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the Guisinger Colonial Chapel. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. in the funeral home.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving as an Army medic with the 12th Armored Division. He was a member of the DiLoreto Club of Mishawaka and St. Anthony de Pauda Catholic Church.