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Obituaries February 6, 2008
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Joey Rampulla, owner of Theresa's caterers in North Massapequa
by Tiffany

Former longtime North Massapequan resident and restaurant owner Joseph "Joey" Rampulla died recently after an illness. He served as a host to thousands of local weddings and other happy occasions.

Born to Theresa and Lorenzo in Maspeth Queens, he moved into a Delaware Avenue home they built in North Massapequa in 1954. Soon after they opened a "Theresa's Pizza" on North Broadway, whose customers included Jerry Seinfeld's parents who owned Seinfeld's Signs next door. They had also operated "Pastosa Ravioli" on Merrick Road in Massapequa.

Using architectural skills he learned in school, he designed and built a catering hall called Theresa's of Massapequa at 1071 North Broadway, which opened in 1969. It held more than 700 guests in its lavish banquet rooms, that saw thousands of weddings and other special events. He ran the business for 27 years, before selling it in 1996.

Mr. Rampulla retired to Delray Beach, Florida in 2001 and opened several business. He became an avid golfer and "learned how to relax in paradise," according to his family. He died six years later.

He leaves behind his wife, Arlene; his children: Loren Anne Miller and her husband James, Andrew, Joseph and his daughter-in-law, Rosemarie; his grandchildren: Jolie, Tyler, Brandon, Brett, Andrew and Aubrey; his brothers: Ralph and Mario; his nieces and nephews: Lawrence, Marc, Frank, Ralph Jr., Theresa, Lawrence Jr., Christine and Richard; his sisters-in-laws: Pat, Phyllis and Lucille; as well as many friends and relatives. He was predeceased by his brother, Lawrence, his father, Lorenzo and his mother, Theresa.

He reposed at the Babione Funeral Home in Boca Raton, Florida. A Funeral Mass was held at Our Queen of Peace R.C. Church in Boca Raton, Florida followed by interment in Our Queen of Peace Cemetery.
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