Joseph “Joey” Emory Michael Monaco, 37, of Philadelphia, was called home by his Heavenly Father on August 9, 2023, with his mother by his side, due to complications of Type 1 diabetes.

 

Joey was born on October 11, 1985 to Mary (née Beaulieu) and Domenic Monaco, the fifth of six (or seventh of eight) children. A proud Northeast Philadelphian and recent Los Angeles transplant, he had a colossal love for his family. Joey looked up to his three older brothers and loved them beyond measure, always trying to stay in stride with the big kids. He was particularly close to his baby sister Mary and felt indebted to her for the irreplaceable role she continues to play in his daughter’s life. He was devoted to his mother and kept in constant contact with her no matter the circumstance. Joey loved his father with every fiber of his being and regretted ever letting him down. He delighted in the company of his dogs, Shadow and Roxy.

 

As a prolific letter writer, Joey left us able to sprinkle his distinctive voice throughout this tribute. He was a natural comedian and provocateur. The friends he made during his teenage years were some of his most treasured relationships. He loved to make people laugh, which came easy with his unique perspective and goofy disposition. His favorite jokes challenged “the delicate sensibilities” of others. He had a constant thirst for knowledge and rejected formal education in favor of lifelong, self-directed learning. He had a voracious and insatiable appetite for books and delighted in sharing wildly interesting facts about how things came to be.

 

Joey had a penchant for the arts and spent time honing his graffiti hand styles, studying artwork he admired, listening to hip hop, and “bustin’ rhymes” he penned himself. He liked nothing more than to look and feel “fresh” in his immaculate A.D.I.D.A.S. shell tops, crisp white tee, short sleeves rolled, jeans cuffed, and a snapback Phillies hat. Good food was his true passion. Even as an adult, he considered himself a "lifelong fat kid," describing multi-course meals like someone would a treasured possession.

 

Joey was also an enigma who embodied contradiction: he was charismatic, yet self-conscious. He was brash, yet sensitive; strong and guarded, yet tender and deep. His strength was in his vulnerability and sentimentality, both of which he said were “straight-up corny.” He had an impeccable vocabulary, but a lasting insecurity about his ability to spell. It was unwarranted - he truly could have won a spelling bee! Joey had a strong sense of identity and took particular pride in his Southern Italian and Native American heritage. He had a sense of responsibility to justice and righting wrongs committed against others, especially by those in power. At his best, he was kind, compassionate and fearless in the face of adversity.

 

When Joey was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, it crushed his dream of following in his brother Frank's footsteps to join the Navy. Like many, he struggled with depression, anxiety, and a self-medicating addiction from a young age. Despite it all, he never lost hope for his recovery. This was the hallmark of Joey’s spirit: an unrelenting sense of optimism for his future, in spite of the demons he wrestled with throughout his life. He always said he had more than nine lives and saw the second half of his life as entirely borrowed time. 

 

As is common with those who struggle with addiction, Joey often found himself alone, but fear not: “Being alone and having so much time to think has been beneficial to my recovery.” He found solace, camaraderie, and gratitude in the Big Book and the fellowship AA provided: “I had a million and one reasons to stay sober, or even get sober, but until my hand was placed in God’s Hand, it wasn’t possible for this alcoholic/addict.” He would want us to remember him for exactly who he always knew he was: a spiritual being having a human experience. 

 

Joey’s proudest accomplishments are the three exclamation points punctuating his too-short life, his children: Michael Anthony (16), Angelina Mackenzie (13) and Emory Joseph (13). He often said they were the only thing he did right in his entire life. He will undoubtedly be with them in spirit, ever present and eternally guiding them from the afterlife. His biggest regret was not being well enough to be the stable presence in their lives he so deeply wanted to be. They were the reason he fought so hard for his sobriety. Most recently, Joey was looking forward to returning to his hometown for a fresh start, in sobriety, with his beloved family. Joey dreamed of opening a pizza shop, spending time with his children, finding love, and networking with others who needed help getting sober.

 

Joey will be sadly missed by his loving parents, Domenic and Mary Monaco; his siblings Frank Migliaccio (Tina), Gina Gradle, Domenic Monaco Jr (Cathy), Linda (Kieth), Tina (Mike), Victor (Laura), and Mary Monaco; his three children, Michael Anthony, Angelina MacKenzie, and Emory Joseph; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends.

 

He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, Emory & Marie Beaulieu and Michael & Lucy Monaco; cousin Michael Gregory; Aunt Angela and Uncle Joseph Monaco;  Aunt Tomasina and Uncle William Gregory; Aunt Maria and Uncle Steve DeRentz; Aunt Nancy and Uncle Robert Weir;  and Aunt Sharon Migliaccio.