Joseph
”
Joe
”
B. Mello, a prominent berry farmer and breeder of raspberry
plants, died at Saint Louise Hospital Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004,
from Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 77.
Joseph “Joe” B. Mello, a prominent berry farmer and breeder of raspberry plants, died at Saint Louise Hospital Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004, from Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 77.
Born in Laton on April 17, 1927 and raised in the Fresno area, he was an Army Veteran of World War II. He graduated from Santa Cruz Beauty College then went into the dairy and cotton farming business with his brother, Manuel. He married his wife Julia, and then moved to Watsonville in 1954 and began his farming career with the Reiter Berry Farms in Watsonville where he worked for more than 40 years. For a brief period he was employed by Mike Conrotto Trucking of Gilroy. Upon retiring from Reiter Berry Farms he started Mello’s 21st Century Berry Farm providing exotic berries to local restaurants and bakeries throughout California and the United States, which is now run by his grandson Nicolas.
He is the husband of Julia A. Mello of Gilroy; the father of Christine M. Strohm and her husband Richard of Nevada City, Elizabeth J. Amarante of Hollister and the late Joanne Soto and Michael J. Mello; the grandfather of Steven C. and Nicholas C. Soto, both of Gilroy, and Julie A. Soto of Hollister, Emily M. Bettencourt, Andrew J. Bettencourt and Cristina N. Amarante all of Hollister; the great-grandfather of Jazmine and Chris Soto of Hollister; the son of the late Antonio L. and Georgiana S. Mello; the brother of Manuel Mello of Selma, Mary Whalen and Frank Mello, both of Watsonville, and the late Antone L. Mello and Rose Perry. He also is survived by many nieces, nephews and Godchildren.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:30pm, Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, at St. Mary’s Church, Gilroy with viewing beginning at 12pm. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Gilroy.
Donations to the St. Mary’s School or the Alzheimer’s Association are appreciated.
