Neil J. Goodemote

Neil Joseph Goodemote, 89, of Marietta GA, passed away on November 22, 2019 at his home after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was lovingly attended by his family as he passed.

He was born in West Valley NY on March 6, 1930, the son of Margaret Burns Goodemote and Leon Goodemote. He later moved to Olean with his family, attended St. Mary of the Angels School and graduated in 1948 from Olean High School. On September 17, 1949 at St. Mary of the Angels Church in Olean, he married Joan P. Sanzo, who predeceased him on July 1, 2019, and with whom this past September he would have celebrated 70 extraordinarily wonderful years of marriage.

During and after high school and in the early years of his marriage, Neil worked in several Olean area grocery stores, including Lindsey’s, the A & P, and Leo’s, where he was the produce manager for a number of years. In 1965, together with their brother and sister-in-law, Neil and Joan became the original owners and operators of the Beef ’n’ Barrel Restaurant in Olean, followed shortly after by the Heritage Inn Restaurant, also in Olean. Several years later, Neil and Joan owned and operated the Village Green complex at the Olean House, which included the Weathervane Gift Shop, as well as the Weathervane in Jamestown NY. As a restaurateur, Neil showed remarkable vision, talent for design, and care and concern for his employees and the public whom he served so well. Neil and Joan moved to the Tampa, Florida area in 1979 where he operated several produce markets. In 1995, Neil and Joan moved to Marietta, Georgia where he worked for the West Cobb Marketplace Publix until his retirement in 2009 at age 79. Neil was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marietta.

Neil is survived by his children: David (Linda) Goodemote of Reading MA, Patricia (Anthony) Titus of Olean NY, Gary (Mary Shedd) Goodemote of Brattleboro VT, Suzanne Goodemote of Chattanooga TN, Nancy Goodemote of Dallas GA, Mary (Gregory) Miller of Kennesaw GA, and Margaret (John Quigley) Goodemote of Olean; an ‘honorary’ son John (Joann) Driscoll of Rochester NY; 14 grandchildren: Luke (Meredith) Goodemote of Lynnfield MA, Abigail Goodemote of Reading MA, Anthony Marra, Jr. of Falconer NY, Angelo (Danielle) Marra of Falconer NY, Pasquale (Lori) Marra of Brookhaven NY, Samuel (Jennifer) Marra of Jamestown NY, Riley Goodemote of St. Paul MN, Karen (Chad) Stallings of Denver CO, Naomi (Nathan Todd) Sunshine of Powder Springs GA, Martha (Lorin Jones) Hunter of Chattanooga TN, Katharine Miller of Marietta GA, Claire Miller of Marietta GA, Jacob Miller of Kennesaw GA, and Michael Driscoll of Rochester NY; 10 great-grandchildren and 8 step-great-grandchildren; a sister, Annette (Jack) Wakeman of Orchard Park NY; a sister-in-law, Rosemary Goodemote of Olean NY; and many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Neil was preceded in death by his infant daughter Donna Marie Goodemote; his brothers Regis, Denis, and James Goodemote; his sisters Eileen Goodemote, Marjorie Ehman, and Mary Jean Grace; a daughter-in-law Linda Goodemote; and a son-in-law John Quigley.

Neil was a man of unsurpassed integrity and character, whose Christian values will serve as a model for his children and grandchildren throughout their lives. He will be forever remembered for his amazing sense of humor, for his kindness and fairness toward everyone he knew, and most especially, for his undying love for his “Jo” and their children. He was born to serve others, and he served well and uncomplainingly until the end.

Visitation for Neil will be observed from 4 – 6 pm Friday, November 29 at the West Cobb Funeral Home at 2480 Macland Road SW, Marietta GA. A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 am Saturday, November 30 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 87 Lacy Street NW in Marietta GA. Memorials in Neil’s name may be made to School of the Holy Childhood, 100 Groton Pkwy, Rochester NY 14623; and to Amity Care Hospice, 7961 Highway 92, Suite 200, Woodstock GA 30189, to whom Neil’s family is deeply grateful for their care and compassion.