Joe Mazzanti Jr.

Joe Mazzanti Jr., devoted son, faithful husband, loving father and proud grandfather, died on Sept. 26, 2013 at Chicot Memorial Medical Center in Lake Village, surrounded by his five children. He was 82. A life-long resident of Lake Village, he was born May 9, 1931, the son of the Italian immigrants Joe P. Mazzanti Sr. and Adele Micci Mazzanti. Born into a family of 11 children, he was the youngest of six boys. Upon graduating from Lakeside High School in 1952, Joe took over the family farm which has remained in the family since 1926. On March 4, 1961, he married Marion Tullos who preceded him in death on Sept. 18, 1998. Joe, along with his wife Marion, dedicated their lives to raising their five children. His love for them and his grandchildren was exceeded only by his love for the Lord and his Church. A life-long member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake Village, Joe attended Mass on a daily basis after his retirement from farming, and he enjoyed serving at Mass. For many years, Joe offered his services to the parish and St. Mary's School, until, sadly, his health deteriorated to the point that he had to be confined to his home in his last years. Joe will be remembered by his children as a man of great courage, determination and perseverance. Despite becoming legally blind in 1976, and being stricken with other physical impairments, Joe continued to provide for his family by working his small family farm, helping to put four of his five kids through college, and one through law school. Never one to complain about his misfortunes, Joe accepted the challenges he faced in life and dealt with them with integrity and dignity. If he felt sorry for himself, his children never knew it. Joe was also member of the Knights of Columbus. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Joe Mazzanti III and Debbie Mazzanti; his son, Tommy Mazzanti; his daughter and son-in-law, Terry Lee and Arthur Lee; his daughter and son-in-law, Andrea Hill and Shannon Hill; his daughter, Kathleen Mazzanti; his grandchildren, Nicholas Mazzanti, A.J. Lee, Alicia Mazzanti, Brandon Lee, Austin Mazzanti, Kaitlin Hill, Christa Mazzanti, Daniel Hill, Hannah Hill, and Erin Hill; a great-grandson, John Thomas Mazzanti; and one great-granddaughter on the way, all of Lake Village; three brothers, John Mazzanti of Norfolk, Va., Edwin Mazzanti of Virginia Beach, Va., and Pete Mazzanti of Laurel, Miss.; three sisters, Margaret Aguzzi of Cleveland, Miss., Lena Mazzanti of North Little Rock, Ark., and Catherine Distrito of Plant City, Fla.; and four close friends, who lovingly cared for him in his final years, Pat Bell, Georgia Lacy, Mary McClure, and Margaret Sawyer. Visitation is 6-7 p.m. with rosary at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013 at Bishop Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30, 2013 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church with father Theophilus Okpara as celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Isadore Cemetery under the direction of Bishop Funeral Home of Lake Village. The family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial be made to Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church or St. Mary's School.