Rocco Latella

Rocco Latella, Canal Winchester, Ohio
December 16, 1956 – December 30, 2014

Rocco "Rocky" Latella passed away peacefully and quietly on Tuesday, December 30, 2014 following a lengthy battle with an exceptionally rare form of cancer.

Rocky loved his family more than anything. And by family, we include just about anyone he befriended. He loved his mom Mary Ann Latella (deceased only 9 days prior). He married his main squeeze Kimmie Parks, a trucking company secretary at the time, 21 years ago, with whom he had two sons Kaleb and Luke, who joined his two grown daughters Dawn and Tiffanie and later on they were introduced to Selena. He taught them to fish in a quality manner, to love nature, and to just be thankful. He took great pride in stocking his toolbox with tools that no one was to ever touch (ever).

He had a life-long love affair with spaghetti & meatballs, Italian olives, lupine beans, and tons and tons of chocolate chip ice cream. A passion he shared with sisters and brothers Loraine Beggrow, Lois Groves, Theresa Crane, Leo Latella, and Michael Latella. He also loved sharing a whole coconut cream pie with his mother-in-law, Patty Payne and spending time on the back porch with her hubby, Wayne.

He excelled at fishing, boating, and hunting; a true outdoorsman. He loved driving semi-tractor trailers nationwide and messing with just about anybody on his CB radio. But above all, he loved transforming ordinary vehicles into awesome racing machines and teaching his children how to do the same. Unfortunately he was never able to finish his latest project, a 1962 Chevy Impala. He did, however, possess an infectious sense of humor accompanied by an exquisite sense of comedic timing.

Rocky took fashion cues from no one. His signature every day look was a plain pocketed T-shirt designed by the fashion house Fruit of the Loom, his black-label elastic waist shorts and a pair of old work boots, often accompanied by a straw fishing hat. He didn't particularly care for organized sports, folks that put on airs, and he absolutely hated liver and onions. He tended to be suspicious of anyone that didn't like old westerns or his Savior, Jesus Christ.

Visitation will be held at Newcomer Funeral Home at 3393 Broadway in Grove City, Ohio 43123 on Sunday, January 4th from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. A life celebration for both Rocky and his mother will be held at the First Baptist Church of Grove City at 3301 Orders Road in Grove City, Ohio on Monday, January 5th at 10:00 a.m. followed by internment at St. Joseph's Cemetery.