Luigi Antonio (Louie) Vesce, born June 12, 1931, of Saint Johns, FL, formerly of Piscataway, NJ, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2019, just three days shy of his 88th birthday. Louie was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Christina Vesce (Pellegrino); brothers, Frank T. Vesce and Richard G, “Buddy” Vesce. Louie is survived by his loving and adored wife of 66 years, Mena Vesce (De Maria); son, Gary L. Vesce, daughter-in-law, Laura J. (Popick) of South Plainfield, NJ; daughter, Gina M. Mielech (Vesce); son-in-law, Gary C. Mielech of Saint Johns, FL; three grandchildren, Kent Vesce of Bound Brook, NJ, Ross Mielech of Jacksonville, FL, and Ryan Mielech of Santa Fe, NM; great-grandchildren, Jake and Giana Vesce of Howell, NJ, Emma and McKenna Peach of South Plainfield, NJ; a sister, Mary Ann Badore of Lebanon, NJ. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews that idolized him.
Louie proudly served his country as a tail gunner in the Air Force.
Louie was a truck driver for Burlington Industries for many years and when he wasn’t on the road, he fixed cars, played the piano while his wife Mena sang, helped strangers stranded on highways and took the neighborhood kids for ice cream in his pickup truck. Many of the neighborhood kids would gather in his garage and use his CB or get an automotive lesson from him because he was so much fun to be around. Born in New York, he grew up in Iselin, NJ, then spent most of his years in Piscataway NJ, eventually moving to Saint Johns, FL in 1997 to be closer to his daughter and grandchildren.
He was a member of the Italian American Club of Jacksonville and a lover of all things Italian: food, wine, music and movies. He made friends wherever he went. People were naturally drawn to his wonderful sense of humor and charm.
In March of 2019, after three years of dialysis treatment, Louie decided he’d had enough and stopped dialysis to spend his remaining time with his family at home, doing the things he loved. He wasn’t given much time but that didn’t stop Louie. He had many visitors and many laughs, occasionally going to his favorite diner for breakfasts and meeting his amici for pizza twice a month.
He will be terribly missed but he will be remembered with love and a smile, always.
A memorial service is planned for a later date, to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking memorial donations be made to Community Hospice & Palliative Care, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257 or give online at support.communityhospice.com.
