Julio DiCarlo

July 4, 1931 ~ October 12, 2026

Julio DiCarlo, 95, was reunited with his wife Madeline in heaven after passing away peacefully at home on October 12, 2026. Julio was born on July 4, 1931 in Brooklyn, NY to Esquilio (aka Joseph) and Dahlia DiCarlo. He graduated from Metropolitan Vocational High School in Brooklyn, NY. Julio began his career working with his father at DiCarlo Studios, a family-owned doll manufacturing business in Lower Manhattan. He then went on to work as a warehouse checker at Embassy Grocery Corp. in Maspeth, Queens with his brother-in-law Guy, a job that he truly loved. He eventually retired as a painter with the NYC Housing Authority. He was a very hard and dedicated worker his entire life leaving the house by 5 AM and returning home around 7 PM without ever complaining. A family man through and through, he devoted his free time to Madeline and his two children. He filled their lives with love, warmth, and laughter, making it a priority to never miss a sports game or school event.

He so dearly missed Madeline since her passing on June 6, 2020 after being married for 66 wonderful years. He always loved being around family when
Madeline would cook multi course Italian dinners that could feed the entire neighborhood. He met Madeline at a church social gathering after he got up enough courage to ask her out and they were married on April 25, 1954. Julio lived the first 32 years of his life in Brooklyn, NY. He enjoyed reminiscing about the old days, especially childhood trips with his friends to Nathan’s in Coney Island for 5 cent hot dogs. In 1963, they moved to their brand-new home in Great Kills, Staten Island, NY which he meticulously maintained for 57 years and also raised both children. While living on Acacia Avenue, he enjoyed sitting outside talking to his neighbors and watching all the action as the neighborhood children played on the street. He even kept count of them – 51 kids in total! He and Madeline loved going to Atlantic City with family and friends, along with Silver Sneaker walks at the YMCA. Julio was a member of St. Clare Parish Men’s Club and also volunteered as a church painter and parking lot attendant during Sunday mass. Later in life, he enjoyed sitting outside chatting with his good friends – Nick, Fred and Joe. He looked forward to his daily conversations with his younger brother Larry right up until his final moments.

With his warm welcoming smile and genuine care for others, Julio made friends wherever he went. He always chose to see the good in people and never passed judgment. He could (and DID!) talk to anyone about anything, many times offering gentle words of wisdom centered on finding happiness, respecting yourself and others, and taking pride in hard work. He would say “spend time with people that make you happy” – and everyone else “don’t think about them!”

Julio’s devotion to his family only grew with the arrival of his grandchildren. He relished spending endless hours playing with dinosaurs, cars and LEGOs. He watched their favorite shows repeatedly. He powered thru episodes of Gossip Girl listening to his granddaughter explain all the drama unfolding on the screen. Julio loved to sneak Oreos in the car and make secret trips to the ice cream shop, making sure their faces were wiped clean to get rid of any evidence before getting home. Even at 95, Julio had the same joyful energy and love with his three great grandsons playing on the floor with monster trucks, building LEGOS again, and watching Paw Patrol repeatedly.

And yes, it’s true, he was a very “picky” eater! After Madeline passed away, he struggled with the fact that nothing ever tasted like her cooking. The one constant was his breakfast treats – a small glass of orange juice, followed by a cup of coffee with Entenmann’s cake, a jelly donut, Italian bread toast with butter, or Devil Dogs – all enjoyed in perfect rotation. In his later years, Julio especially looked forward to his Friday morning Dunkin’ Donuts tradition with his son Stephen, along with many rides in Stephen’s convertible. He loved tagging along to the grocery store proudly waiting in the convertible while Stephen shopped. He would say with his signature smile,”howdaya like that, everyone thinks this is my car!”

After living in NY for 89 years, he made a courageous move to The Village at South Farms Assisted Living facility in Middletown, CT in September 2020. While there, he quickly forged many new friendships and found the “fountain of youth” starting a new vibrant life once again. He got younger and younger as the years went on. While at The Village, he enjoyed hallway walks and sitting on the front porch with his dear friend Kitty. He looked forward to playing bingo and pokeno, taking scenic drives (“we’re out in the country over here”), movie nights, and numerous trips to the casino. He secretly stashed away all his proud bingo winnings over the years of $144 in single dollar bills, a true testament to his meticulous organization skill.

He enjoyed watching the NY Yankees, NY Giants, Western movies, nature shows, Netflix (BUT ONLY on his Ipad). Julio had great pleasure working on his
1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles, which he would lovingly frame himself and then either display in his apartment or give to family and friends, even hanging one up inside The Village Pub. He also got to enjoy his last two favorite meals before he passed on, Pastosa Ravioli (from Joan) and homemade chicken soup (from Suzette). Julio was truly the salt of the earth. He saw the best in every person and situation and always found joy. His unwavering positivity (right up until his last day), warm smile, and remarkable ability to find happiness in the simplest things never faded over 95 years, which was perhaps the secret to his long life so well lived.

He is survived by his son Stephen DiCarlo (wife Suzette) of Middletown, CT along with his daughter Joan Rogers (husband Peter) of Spring Lake, NJ. He is also survived by five loving grandchildren Stephanie (husband Jovannie), Stephen Jr. (fiancée Abby), Nicholas (wife Jessica), Christopher (wife Selin), and Avery along with three great grandsons whom he adored calling all of them a “silly goose” – Rhett, Olakunle and Jovani. He is also survived by his younger brother Larry DiCarlo (wife Marie deceased) of Hamilton Square, NJ. He leaves behind his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Guy Sconzo of Staten Island, NY along with many caring nieces and nephews.

We are so grateful to all the associates at The Village at South Farms (way too many names to mention) from every department who showed him so much
compassion and love as his second family. They gave him a “pep in his step” and added on another six years of a happy and healthy life. Thanks to his medical team at Middlesex Health (Millicent, plus many others) along with his Hartford HealthCare At-Home Hospice Team (Susan and Kim, plus many others). Funeral arrangements are being jointly handled by Biega Funeral Home in Middletown, CT and Cherubini McInerney Funeral Home in Staten Island, NY.

Calling hours are Saturday, October 17th, 2026, from 2 PM until 5 PM at Biega Funeral Home. A funeral mass will be held at St. Clare Church in Staten Island, NY on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 11 AM followed by burial at Resurrection Cemetery.