Joseph G. Ciravolo

Joseph (Joe) Gasper Ciravolo was a first-generation Italian-American born on January 5, 1938 to Gasper and Josephine (Liparoto) Ciravolo in Detroit, MI. After the death of his father in 1943, the family moved to Monroe, Michigan. He attended the former St. Joseph Catholic grade school on the east side of Monroe. As the eldest of four siblings, Joe began working at the tender age of 9 at a food supply company to help support his family. In his early teens, he began working for Gene Germani at Gene’s Sunoco Gas Station and then for Al Vore at Al’s Standard Service to create his future career path. Upon getting ready to walk with his fellow classmates at Monroe High School on graduation day, he learned he was a half credit short due to time lost from an unexpected medical condition. Although he was always included in his Monroe High class reunions, Joe wanted to get his diploma and later pursued his GED and graduated from Mason High in 1994. In 1959, he decided to go into business for himself and opened Joe’s Standard Service in Erie, MI. In 1962, he moved to 405 S. Monroe Street, Monroe, MI. There, he offered automotive repair, tires, towing services, as well as providing full service Standard Oil (which later changed to Amoco) fuel islands. He was proud of his affiliation. During his years in business, he serviced many regular returning individuals, families, businesses, and governmental agencies including the U.S. Postal Service and the Military Recruitment offices. He established close relationships to many which lead to life long friendships. Because of his tow services and location of his business, it allowed him the ability to work closely with local law enforcement agencies. He was proud to be a trusted resource over the years and honored to be able to offer support on special projects. Providing a tow service for so many years, he and his employees were brought into many personal and serious situations with motorists, law enforcement, ambulance, and fire department personnel. With a full service station, many different skill levels were required. Joe provided many local Monroe area young people with their first jobs as well as employing some of its top mechanics. Often, he was not only an owner and boss, but trainer, teacher, brother, mentor and parent to many. He worked a lot of long hard hours and challenged himself to be successful in his life and work decisions. His brother Bill and his three children worked with him at different stages throughout the years. In 1977, his son John starting working with him at the station pumping gas, washing cars and helping out until he was able to work along side him wrenching cars and managing the tow service until 1989. Although his fuel tanks were pulled out in 1999, Joe remained in business providing light vehicle service work until March 11th, when he became ill. His station was built in 1938, the same year he was born, by Standard Oil. His station was often utilized for a variety of photo opportunities for calendars, newspaper articles, car clubs, and once for a national commercial. In 1997, the gas station became a historical landmark. Growing up in an Italian immigrant family without a father in the World War II era, his family experienced very tough times. It was the kindness of others that stood out for Joe. At an early age, he understood the necessity of supporting his family. He did it with hard work, integrity, and honesty. He rarely talked about his childhood, but he stood strong in his Catholic faith that helped form him and got his family through their tough times. It was this and the love of his family that helped develop the individual he became. While Joe was proud of his career, he was most proud of his family. He instilled in them strong work ethics, love of family, love of faith, integrity, passion for what you do, and care of community. On November 23, 1963, he married Nancy Ann Grodi at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ida, MI. Together, they raised 3 children: Joan (Jeffery) Benore of Erie, John Ciravolo of Erie, and Shari (Lee) LaVoy of Temperance. They have 5 grandchildren: Jaimie, Julia, and Joseph Benore, and Adrienne and Avery LaVoy, and a great-grandson, Joseph Jr. He is also survived by two sisters, Virginia (Dolly) Woods and Frances Hollett. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother William (Bill), and two brothers-in-law, Arnold (Sonny) Woods and Mevlin Hollett Joe was known in the community for his strength, his work ethic, and his care and compassion for others. He had the unique ability to see the good in every situation and every person, putting himself at God’s service consistently. He enjoyed camping, bowling in the Monroe leagues with his wife, attending VFW Friday night dinners, the annual Monroe County Fair, donating his time to various charities including the Salvation Bell ringing, the Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll drive, the paper sale, and St. Joseph Erie Labor Day Festival. Joe also enjoyed traveling (including Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, Italy, and Sicily), live theatre, gardening, spending time with his family, and hanging around the gas station which was affectionately known to his grandchildren as “Joe’s Social Service.” He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Erie, MI, Erie Council #7413 of Knights of Columbus, Monroe County Landlord Association, Monroe International Friendship Association (MIFA) and the former Italian-American Club of Monroe. He was a 4-H volunteer for over 50 years and served several years on the Erie Township Compensation Committee. Family and friends may visit from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9th at Bacarella Funeral Home where Knights of Columbus St. Joseph Council 7413 will recite the Rosary at 7 p.m. Joe will lie in state Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Erie. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. by the church pastor, Rev. Fr. Mark Prill. Cremation will follow with interment at the church cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic Grade School in Erie, Knights of Columbus Council 7413 or Monroe Community Foundation-Judy See 4-H Scholarship Fund.

Joseph G. Ciravolo

January 5, 1938 - September 2, 2021