Obituary of Jose Latacela

During times like these, people often say, "Rest In Peace." But Jose Latacela rarely rested. To him, resting was time wasted that he could be working to help his family. Whether it was fixing a broken pipe, re-doing a bathroom, painting a house, building a shed, or a wardrobe, or a cabinet, or simply driving his granddaughter to high school every day — the list is endless. He didn't like vacations, or going to the countryside to sit and look at the trees — to him it was a waste of time. There was always work to be done for someone in the family. He was a giver. He never thought of himself, only of others. He was born in Azogues, Ecuador, a small town nestled in the foothills of the Andes. He left home at 12 to the nearby city of Cuenca, worked to support himself, and eventually met his wife Maria. He studied architecture, started a family, then came to America in 1969 with a suitcase and 40 bucks. He drove a cab, swung a hammer, and did what he could to provide for his growing family. Eventually he settled at the body repair division at Volkswagen, where he remained for many years. He and his family began their lives in the US in a small apartment on Roosevelt Avenue, then he and his wife saved and saved - and saved some more - to buy their own house and other real estate in Woodside. He raised six children, and put them all through Catholic school. But at the end of the day, with all of his children around the dinner table, he would support them with words instead of his hands. And it was never judgmental, or cynical, or negative. He had this way of talking that made you feel close to him. And he got deep real quick: no time for small talk, he was all about the meaning of life in the first few minutes of the conversation! He also loved to impart his wisdom, crack one of his familiar jokes, or give you a compliment. It was during these many talks over many years that he showed himself to be so much more than a worker, or a carpenter, or an architect - he taught his children courage, faith, dedication and integrity. Utterly selfless men are very rare these days. Think to yourself right now - do you know of such a man? …Well I did. He was my father, Jose Latacela. Durante tiempos como estos, la gente usualmente dice, "Que descanse en paz." Mi padre , José Latacela, raramente descansaba; el descanso para él era una oportunidad perdida donde podía estar haciendo algo para ayudar a la familia…. una reparación o construir un armario o un gabinete… o simplemente podría conducir a su nieta al colegio todas las mañanas. La lista es interminable. No tomaba vacaciones por lo regular, porque para él, había algo que hacer y no se daba el lujo de descansar. Nació en Azogues, Ecuador, un pueblo al pie de los Andes. Dejó su pueblo rumbo a Cuenca a los 12 años. Se casó y dio comienzo a una familia. Empezó estudios en arquitectura que le llevarían eventualmente a los Estados Unidos. En 1969 llegó a Roosevelt Avenue con una maleta y $40. Trabajó en varios lugares. Eventualmente la oportunidad se presentó en una compañía de coches, donde se estableció por muchos años. El pequeño apartamento en Elmhurst pasó a ser una casa en Woodside… muy cerca de esta iglesia. Mediante trabajo y ahorros mi padre y madre mejoraron su oportunidad financiera. Su orgullo era asegurarnos una educación privada. Pero cuando el día daba su fin al trabajo, con todos alrededor de la mesa, él nos apoyaba con palabras y no con sus manos. Nunca fue crítico o cínico…al contrario nos brindaba frases poéticas. Mi padre tenía una forma de compartir con palabras para hacernos sentir su cercanía. Y en un poco rato profundizar la conversación …no se detenía en lo cotidiano…sus conversaciones buscaban enseñar y aprender sobre la definición de la vida o la política…. También le encantaba impartir sus granitos de sabiduría, decir uno de sus chistes o darnos un complemento. Fue durante estas charlas a través de los años que mi padre se mostró ante nosotros …mucho más que el trabajador - nos enseñó valentía, fé , dedicación e integridad. Hombres generosos sin límite son raros en nuestro mundo corriente. Piensa… ¿conoces a un hombre generoso? Pues yo sí. Él es mi padre, José Latacela. …y ahora Papá - no hay más trabajo para usted - finalmente puede descansar en paz. Lo adoramos. Funeral Mass will be held 12:45 pm on Friday, May 13, 2022 at St. Sebastians RCC, 58th Street And Roosevelt Avenue, Woodside, NY. Cremation will be in Fresh Pond Crematory, Middle Village on Friday, May 13 at 2:00 pm.