Tributes are paid after death of ‘Uncle Joe’
Popular 77-year-old was‘part of the fabric’of town
TRIBUTES have been paid to a gentleman described as “part of the fabric” of a Valley town. Joe Teoli, known affectionately to many as Uncle Joe, from Haslingden, passed away on Tuesday evening, aged 77. His passion was playing his Italian music on his piano accordion.
He was a club secretary of Greenfield Bowling Club, and played snooker.
Scores of tributes have been paid to “happy-go-lucky” Joe on local social media group loveHaslingden Forum, which his family said have given them comfort.
Haslingden councillor Granville Morris told the Free Press he was deeply saddened by Joe’s passing, as someone he had used to bowl alongside.
Coun Morris said: “I used to be a greengrocer in Haslingden and so I knew a lot of people, and Joe was always a local character, in a nice way.
“He was well known and very vocal, he expressed his points of view and was well known to be an honest man. We used to play bowls together, and we still spoke about it.”
He added: “Without question we have lost a very well known person in the town, and I was very upset actually.”
Joe came to England aged 18 and worked as a bus conductor before working his way up to being a bus inspector of Rossendale Transport.
He was married to his devoted wife Lorenzina for 52 years. He leaves three daughters Maria, Emma and Elida, granddaughters Francesca, Natasha, and Sofia, grandsons Ricco, Mayan and Ayden, as well as greatgrandchildren.
Coun Morris added: “There are a lot of Italian people in the area of Haslingden, and Joe was, in my view, one of those people who stood out in the town.
“His wife was always with him. He was always very happy-go-lucky and always greeted you in a friendly, close way and made you feel welcome.
“He will be sorely missed, without question.
“I would envisage the town will be full on the day of his funeral. I think people will want to say farewell to a local personality as well as a person who was communityminded, and always thinking about the town and the people in it. He was a big man.”
Blogger Antonella Brollini, Joe’s niece and goddaughter, also posted her own personal tribute on Facebook.