Joseph "Joe" Guzzetta

Mr. Joseph James Guzzetta Jr., 58, of Tyler, Texas, passed away from an unexpected heart attack on January 18, 2026. Joe’s life was defined by a deep devotion to his faith, his family, and his craft. Joe was born in Utica, NY, on January 17, 1968, the son of Joseph James Sr. and Mary Ann (Carzo) Guzzetta. He was a 1986 graduate of Thomas R. Proctor High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1990. However, Joe’s true passion was the culinary arts. He later followed that calling to Paul Smith’s College, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2001, earning multiple awards for excellence. Joe’s culinary path led him through New York, Virginia, and Boston, where while working as a Chef at the Meridian, Joe met the love of his life, Carolina. A year later, Joe proposed on New Year’s Eve at the very same hotel where they met, feeling it was the perfect place for the next step in their journey. They were married in Cambridge, MA, on January 21, 2005, and later on October 29, celebrated a Catholic ceremony in Carolina’s home country of Colombia. In 2006, the couple moved to Tyler, Texas, for Carolina’s career as an engineer. In 2007, they worked in London for six months before returning to Tyler to build their life and family together. In Tyler, Joe became a well-known face in the culinary and faith communities. He worked at Kiepersol and The Cascades, and served as the Wine Manager at FRESH. He also spent many years inspiring the next generation as a Culinary Arts Instructor for both Tyler ISD and Tyler Junior College (TJC). Joe shared his passion for global cuisine by chaperoning students on life-changing international trips. In 2002, he served as a Faculty Supervisor for a three-month trip to France with students from Paul Smith’s College, and later joined a colleague from Tyler ISD to lead students on a two-week experience in Northern Italy. Joe was a natural mentor and stayed in touch with many of his students long after their graduation. Joe truly "brought the Italian experience to Tyler" sharing cherished recipes he learned from his grandmother Carzo and his mother, Mary Ann. He was happiest when cooking for a crowd, and he and Carolina warmly opened their home every Christmas Eve to friends and families who were far from their own relatives. While his roots were Italian, he mastered Colombian staples like ajiaco, buñuelos, and sancocho, and other dishes like momos to almond mole. Joe took special pride in sharing his talent with his children, packing "fancy" gourmet school lunches for Luca and Daniela, meals so sophisticated they were likely the only ones of their kind in any Texas cafeteria. He was their ultimate "cheerleader", a constant presence on the sidelines for Luca’s taekwondo, soccer, baseball, and swimming, and for Daniela’s Special Olympics track, bocce, and swimming. It was during his time as a stay-at-home father to Luca, in 2010, that Joe’s weekly presence at Tuesday's Adoration and Rosary led him to a special friendship with Betty Chandler. Betty and her husband, Connie, became like family, serving as "Hop and Pop" cherished honorary grandparents to his children. Since 2020, Joe turned his talents to winemaking. Each batch was a labor of love with a carefully selected label: Temprani-Joe (Tempranillo); Franchesco (Zinfandel), named in honor of his grandfather Carzo; La Finestra (Montepulciano), featuring a photo of Joe's parents on a trip to Rome; 1929 (Carmenere), the year his Uncle Carmen was born; and Le Lavoir (Cabernet Sauvignon), named for the laundry room where the wine barrel is kept. The family looks forward to the final "release" of the Malbec currently in the barrel—the last wine made by Joe. Joe had a very strong faith and truly knew the "ins and outs" of the Catholic Church. If anyone had a question, Joe had the answer and could explain the "why" behind any Catholic tradition; it was a strength of spirit he was proud to see take root in his son, Luca. A "Sir Knight" and a pillar of the Knights of Columbus for 34 years, Joe served as a District Deputy and Past Grand Knight for Council #14636. Most recently, Joe served his faith community as the Assistant Business Manager at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church. He was also a passionate genealogist who loved solving family mysteries and connecting the dots of his heritage. Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Carolina (Villamil) Guzzetta; his two children, Luca (16) and Daniela (14); his parents, Joe Sr. and Mary Ann; his sister and brother-in-law, Anna Marie and Michael McCabe; his nephew, Giovanni McCabe; and his niece, Kathleen Smith and her husband Hayden. The family will receive friends for a Visitation on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Flint, TX. A Rosary will be prayed at 10:30 AM, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Joe will be laid to rest in the columbarium at St. Mary Magdalene. Honorary Pallbearers will be The Knights of Columbus. Instead of flowers, please consider memorial donations to the Children’s Miracle Network in Tyler, the East Texas Down Syndrome Group, or the St. Mary Magdalene Building Fund. Children's Miracle Network - CHRISTUS Health, www.christushealth.org/connect/donate/trinity-mother-frances/cmn Building Fund - A Home for All God's People - St. Mary Magdalene - Flint, TX, https://catholicflint.org/building-fund

Joseph "Joe" Guzzetta

January 17, 1968 - January 18, 2026