Obituary of Joseph E. Trelli

Joseph (Joe) Edmond Trelli, 76, of Lafayette Hill, PA passed away on April 22, 2020 of natural causes.  

Born in Philadelphia, PA in 1943 to Giuseppe and Philomena (nee Cinelli), both deceased.  Married to Camille (nee Ficarra), deceased.  Survived by his daughter Christine Snyder and her husband Stephen Snyder, son Joseph Anthony Trelli, life partner Phyllis Fox, granddaughters Grace Elizabeth Snyder, Qi Trelli, and Violet Trelli, and countless aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Joe was a graduate of South Philadelphia High School, Temple University, and the University of Pennsylvania with graduate level degrees in Electrical Engineering and Education and spoke fluent Italian.  He began his working career as an employee of the Boeing Vertrol facility in Ridley Park, PA, and served as an engineering designer of the still viable CH-47 Chinook helicopter.  He held a longtime position with the School District of Philadelphia as a teacher of electronics and industrial arts, from which he retired.  He also maintained a business, JET Electronics since the early 1970s.  He built his own home in the Miquon section of Whitemarsh township in 1981.  Joe possessed the knowledge, ability, and patience to fix literally any thing, and used those talents to help anyone and everyone in all manners of life.  Mr. Trelli traveled extensively through North America and Europe, including a journey by train across Canada, and many trips to Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and Germany.  He loved to feast, and though he visited more steakhouses, BBQs, diners, seafood restaurants, cheesesteak and hoagie houses, water ice stands, pizzerias, and Chinese buffets than he could count, his father's Italian food would never be eclipsed.  He held a lifelong love of animals, and spent his life with birds, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, as well as cats Cheshire, Merry, Sam, Monty, and Mango, and German Shepherds Dune and Scout.  In addition to family, Mr. Trelli led a passionate life focused on his beloved Sea Isle City, NJ shore house, aviation, boating, his vintage Chevrolet Corvette, Boy Scouts of America, youth job placement, H.O.P.E, Angel Flight East, and served as an active member and volunteer of St. Phillip Neri of Lafayette Hill and the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia.

Given the current environment, a private burial will take place in the immediate, followed by a memorial service and celebration of Mr. Trelli's life with friends and family at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Joseph E. Trelli to Angel Flight East, 1501 Narcissa Road Blue Bell, PA 19422 or online at www.angelflighteast.org