Joseph C. Popowicz

Jose Carlos Popowicz, known to friends and family as Carlito or Joe, passed away on December 29, 2023 peacefully at home surrounded by family and in his wife’s arms. 

Joe/Carlito was born on April 10, 1943, in Argentina to Ukrainian immigrants, Walter and Justyna Popowicz.  He was 14  years old and, with his younger brother and parents, the family emigrated to the United States settling in Jersey City, NJ. In Jersey City, he graduated from William Dickinson High School in 1961 and worked at his parent’s delicatessen in Jersey City.  He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1964 and was stationed in Arizona and Germany where he trained as an airplane mechanic and earned the title of crew chief.  Joe was honorably discharged from military service in 1971.

In 1975, he married Diane Medvecky from Clifton NJ, where they settled and raised their 4 children, Matthew, Mark, Natalie and Dana. While living in Clifton, Joe worked for the airlines based in New Jersey and Florida.  He also ventured and started several businesses in the Clifton area.

Joe loved his culture, music and dancing, riding his Harley and playing poker with the guys. He also enjoyed preparing  “asado” (Argentinian barbecue) at every opportunity for family and friends.  He never hesitated to lend a helping hand to family and friends replacing a water heater or fixing a boiler or car engine. Most of all he loved his wife and family.  He was most happy when surrounded by his eight grandchildren.

Joe is predeceased by his younger brother Eugene, father Walter and mother Justyna.  He is survived by his wife Diane, children Matthew Popowicz and his significant other Xiomara Hernandez and her daughter Maya, Mark (Deanna) Popowicz, Natalie (Mark) Burachinsky, Dana (John) Resciniti, grandchildren Andrew, Alexandra, and Liliana (Popowicz); Adrian (Burachinsky); Roxanne, JJ, Layla, and Nico (Resciniti); sister Roxy (Andy) Kyzyk, sisters-in-law Eileen Bartolozzi, Dorothy (Al) Vitale; nephews and nieces James Bartolozzi, Karen (Brian) Tish, Jonathan Tish, Kevin Tish, Christine (Joseph) Zeliger, Jessica Zeliger, Jack Zeliger, Michael Vitale, Jason (Leila) Vitale, Stefan Popowicz, Andrew Popowicz and Danilo Kyzyk, and extended family in USA, Argentina and Ukraine.

Byzantine Liturgy will be held at St. Michael’s Cathedral, 96 First Street, Passaic, NJ at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. Please meet at the Cathedral.  Please Park in the lot on Market Street, directly in back of the Cathedral. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Razom for Ukraine @ Razomforukraine.org or to the Wounded Warrior Project. Please visit www.bizubquinlan.com to leave condolences on the Tribute Wall section of obituary.

“Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure”.

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