Obituary of Joseph DeBiase

Joseph DeBiase, 76, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away on Sunday, January 21, 2024 in Allied Services Hospice Center, Wilkes-Barre. He was born in Wilkes-Barre, a son of the late Joseph and Jeanette Bower DeBiase. Joe was a graduate of G.A.R. Memorial High School, class of 1965. He served with the U.S. Army. Prior to his retirement, he had been employed as a truck driver for Consolidated Freightways, Thomas C. Thomas and Core-Mark. He was a member of Teamsters 401 in Wilkes-Barre. Joe also formerly owned Peter L’s Rathskeller. In his younger days, Joe enjoyed playing softball. He loved to dance with his wife, Elizabeth. He enjoyed Italian meals shared with his family on Sundays, playing cards and meeting his friends at coffee shops. He never missed a softball game or practice for his two daughters. Joe also volunteered his time working at the St. Aloysius Church bazaar and at St. Patrick’s Church’s fish and spaghetti dinners. He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Elizabeth Wilde DeBiase, in 2016. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Rose Marie DeBiase Sebastian and by his brothers, Cosimo and Ralph DeBiase. Joe is survived by his children, Emilee Lester, Wilkes-Barre and Elizabeth Lester Bytheway and her husband, Danny, Kingston; grandchild, Kairi Krepich; sister, Angie DeBiase Marsicano, Nanticoke; brother, Peter DeBiase, Laflin and by numerous nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday at 10 am in St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Barney and Division Streets, Wilkes-Barre. A visitation for family and friends will be held in the Church on Saturday from 9 – 10 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family to help to defray the costs of the funeral. Condolences may be sent by visiting Joe’s obituary at www.natandgawlas.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Nat Gawlas Jordan Funeral Home, 89 Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre.