Joseph B. Ferrari

Joseph B Ferrari, age 87, passed away on July 8th, 2026. Born November 7,1938 in Toledo to Bonaventura Ferri and Ida (Rinna) Ferri. Joe’s father, Bonaventura, was an immigrant from Ceccano, Italy. His mother, Ida, was the thread connecting food, love, and family. Joe was immensely proud of his Italian heritage.

Joe graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1956 and then attended the University of Toledo and Davis College. Upon graduation, he served in the United States Air Force where he studied computer programming. Joe’s multifaceted career found him living in London, Austin, Fort Wayne, and Tampa before retiring in 2004 and settling back in Toledo to be near his beloved family.

Joe’s passion was cooking and entertaining, frequently preparing Sunday dinner for his family. An excellent cook and baker, he made many wonderful dishes, but his specialty was Italian food. In recent years, Joe wrote 2 books-an extended family history, and a cookbook of treasured family recipes. He was also a talented musician and passed on his love of music by teaching his great nephew, Noah, piano for many years.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Ida and Bonaventura Ferri. Family left to cherish his memory are his loving sister, Rosemary (Rick) Kerr; his nieces Carin (Christopher) Head, Cristin (Mike) Hutchings; his nephew James (Ashia) Cooper; and his beloved great nephews and nieces including Joe Head, Andrew Head, Lauren Head, Kate Hutchings, Noah Hutchings, Nora Cooper, and Olivia Cooper.

The funeral Mass will be Saturday, August 1st at 11am at St. Joseph’s Church in Sylvania, OH. Friends and family will be received in the church vestibule at St. Joseph’s at 10am prior to the Mass.