Joe Dicorte passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2023. A graveside service will be at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 2, at Oakwood Cemetery, with Deacon Richard Manchaca officiating. Burial will follow. Visitation will begin at 6:00 p.m., Monday, May 1, with a Rosary following at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home.
Joe was born into a loving Italian family on July 22, 1939, in Waco, to Billy and Mary Dicorte. Joe was educated in the Catholic school system of St. Mary’s Elementary. After elementary school, he attended West Junior High with the public school system until Catholic High was built. Devout Italian Catholics, his parents were instrumental in building a Catholic high school for children to continue their education uninterrupted. The land it was built on under the guidance of their dear friend Msgr. Deering was the land where the original Catholic high school, St Basil’s, once stood. Joe was first class in at Catholic High (now known as Reicher), and the first class graduated in 1957. He excelled in sports under the guidance of the legendary Coach Vasek at Catholic High. He also met the most beautiful cheerleader at school while there, and made her his wife for the last 62 years.
After high school, Joe briefly attended Baylor University majoring in “Baylor-ology” as he liked to joke.
Growing up, Joe was always working around his father’s businesses whether it was the Dicorte grocery stores on Fifth Street delivering ice blocks, or the Dicorte package stores.
After school, Joe turned a hobby into a business, opening a photography business with his brother-in-law, Paul Hope. However, the family businesses of his father’s was growing, and Joe joined his dad at Billy Dicorte Package Store on New Dallas Highway, where all the Italians congregated to play Italian Dominoes. Lots of old-world Sicilian language was spoken during these games, and a lot of business transactions between all of them were done! It was a closeknit community.
As the locations grew and Joe helped build and opened the store on Lake Air Dr in the beginning of the 1970’s, ten years later, Joe and his brother, Frank, bought the location from their father to form Dicorte Brothers, Inc. In 1996, Joe assumed sole ownership where it became Dicorte’s Bar and Beverage. Joe was a highly successful entrepreneur, and under his leadership, the company grew exponentially. Joe was regarded throughout the US as a sought-after Scotch connoisseur. His collections were unparalleled in the industry. Joe loved all of his customers, and tremendously enjoyed helping plan all celebrations with Wacoans that passed through his doors.
Family was everything to Joe. He dearly loved his wife, daughters, and grandchildren. He was the grandfather in the carpool line picking the grandkids up and taking them to his house to spend the afternoons with. Those memories will be carried a lifetime to the children he helped shaped.
Joe loved to travel in his motorhome, and taking cruises with his wife, Ann. They almost made all 50 states in their travels together.
The family would like to express sincere gratitude to Dr. Owens at BSW, Dr. Clay Barbin, Dr. Art Sudan, Dr. Matt Patillo and Dr. Tyler Snedden at Texas Oncology. Without exception is all of the doctors and nurses at Ascension Providence, Baylor Scott and White Level One Trauma Unit, and Encompass Rehab. Our officers at 911 have been so appreciated during the many phone calls for assistance.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ann Dicorte; daughters, Lorrie Dicorte and husband, Tom Cox, and Debbie Shaw; sisters, Mary Frances Hope, RoseAnn McAnally, and husband, John; and brother, Frank Dicorte and wife, Sue; grandchildren, Connor Minnix, Jordan Minnix, Kacey Williams, Brittney Harris, Stephanie Eldridge, Brandy Barnard, and Zakeri Barnard; eight great-grandchildren; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Janice Sutter; along with numerous cousins and other family members.
Pallbearers are Connor Minnix, Jordan Minnix, Tom Cox, Frank Bugh, Mike DiCorte, John McAnally, Robert Sutter.
Memorials may be made to: Macular Degeneration Research at www.brightfocus.org/cureAMD or the American Heart Association.
The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our "Tribute Wall" at www.WHBfamily.com.
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