Growing Up In The Butcher Shop
Biography I was born on July 29th, 1956 on the Sunday of The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. I was christened the name Joseph Carmen DeFranco, which is the reason my middle name is Carmen. My father, Martin, is the son of Philip & Teodora ( DelGrosso) DeFranco. My Mother, Rosario, was born in Roseto Valforte, Italy. She is the daughter of Giuseppe & Clementina (De Avella) D'Avanzo I grew up in a Butcher Shop. The front of the house was the store and we lived in the back. So I have been always involved with food. I attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School and graduated from Pius X High School in Roseto. I attended East Stroudsburg University for a period of time and decided it wasn't for me. I chose to work in various blouse mills in the community. By 1989 I was influenced by my Grandmother, Teodora, to own and operate a catering business and have been doing this ever since and now operate with my wife Joelene.