Joseph “Joe” Frank Robert Benamati, SFC Ret. 88 of Red Barn passed away, surrounded by his family, at Beacon Ridge Health Care Center on Thursday, November 23, 2023.
Joe was born August 23, 1935, in Monessen, PA, the son of Thomas/Tomaso and Netta Marguerite “Ann” (Dini) Benamati. As an infant, the family moved to the farm in the Red Barn area of Center Twp/Homer City, PA. Joe lived on the farm property most of his life.
Joe’s words, “For an uneducated Farm Boy (I was very poor at book learnin’) I led one very interesting life, did and accomplished things I never would have dreamed I could do”.
He graduated in 1953 in the first graduating class of the newly formed Laura Lamar High School, Homer City, PA. Shortly after graduating, he began working for Dill Construction from Latrobe, PA. He retired 43 years later.
Joe served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and mustered out after 21 years as the “Mess Sgt” for the 28th Signal Battalion. Joe followed his wife and children into The Boy Scouts where he served for more than 40 years as an adult volunteer. Joe was also a life member of the National Rifle Association.
Joe was a member of Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Parish, Coral PA. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Kiwanis Club of Homer City and was a life member of the American Legion Post 493, Homer City, PA.
Joe is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Martha Louise Lucas Benamati (who he met in 1st grade), and four of his five children, Netta Benamati; Joseph Benamati II and his wife Janet; Marcia Amero and her husband James; William Benamati and his wife Melissa; and a son-in-law Douglass Fitzsimmons. He was a Pappap to Sarah Benamati, James II and Elizabeth Amero, and Josephine Benamati. He is also survived by two siblings, Judith Ann Kokolis and Melvin Benamati.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, his daughter, Victoria Benamati Fitzsimmons, and his three siblings, Elizabeth Gazza, Angelo “Pete” Benamati, and Thomas Benamati Jr.
Friends will be received Tuesday, from 2-4 and 7-9PM at Bowser Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Homer City. A Blessing Service will be held at 10 AM at the funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 at Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Parish, Lucerne Mines Site. Interment to follow in the St. Louis Cemetery, Lucerne Mines.
