Joseph Frank Interlandi

Joseph Frank Interlandi — beloved husband, father and grandfather — died on Thursday January 9, in the arms of all three of his children, after listening to Frank Sinatra and having a few final sips of beer. He was 83 years old. 

Joseph was born and raised in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, New York. His parents Maria and Salvatore Interlandi had made their way there after migrating from Vizzini, Sicily in the early 1900s. Joseph was the youngest of their 10 children and even in adulthood, he fully embraced his status as the “baby” and the most spoiled of the bunch. He was known to his siblings and many nieces and nephews as Joey or Uncle Joe, to his wife Patricia as Babe, and to all the rest of us as Pop. 

Pop was larger than life. If you knew him well, there’s a good chance he was the main character of your funniest story. He was renowned for his foul mouth, his warm heart and his hilarious (and occasionally reckless) approach to life. He was stubborn and adorable, and this combination got him into and out of more tight spots in an average month than most of us encounter in a lifetime. In 83 years he might never once have heeded the advice of any doctor, tax man, friend or relative. He did things his way. And in the end, he won. 

He loved Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and classic cars. He loved to travel - in his younger years he managed to see Italy, Spain, Morocco, Colombia and Greece. He also loved good beer, good Italian food, and big parties, where he could dance the night away (preferably with his own siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews). 

Above all, though, Joseph loved his family. He met Patricia, the love of his life, in 1965; proposed on their first date; and married her a year later. The couple quickly settled down in Bridgewater, where they lived most of their lives, together - rarely spending even a night apart, in 58 years. They made their family by traveling to Colombia, South America in the mid-1970s, on two separate occasions, to adopt three truly awesome babies. They raised their children in love and chaos, with swimming pool summers and sleigh-ride winters, with an endless array of holiday decorations, with Christmas lights and fireworks. To his children and grandchildren (and to many of their friends), Joseph was Superman, Santa Claus, and Batman. 

Joseph was a proud member of the International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union - Local 10, and worked as a fabric cutter at Suzette Fashions in Jersey City for more than 30 years. He also belonged to the local Elks (Bound Brook Lodge No 1388), and was an enthusiastic participant in Bridgewater’s Adult Day Center community in his later years. 

He is survived by his wife Patricia; his three children and their spouses Nicole Interlandi & Eddie McGeehan, Joseph Interlandi Jr. & Jennifer White, and Jeneen Interlandi & Eric Jaffe; and his two darling granddaughters, Alexis Nicole Campbell and Alisa Marie Campbell, who were his ultimate pride, joy and redemption.

Memorial visitation will be held from 4-7PM on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at the Bridgewater Funeral Home, 707 E. Main St., Bridgewater, NJ 08807 with a memorial service at 6:30PM.

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