Elio Pepe passed away peacefully at the Winchester Hospital, on Friday. He was 80. Born and raised in Bonita in the Avellino Province of Italy, he was the son of the late Lucido and Alessandra (Grieco) Pepe. Elio came to the United States in 1968 and settled in Medford where he and his beloved wife Emilia raised their two children. Elio was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. He was part of a tight-knit neighborhood where he was a respected friend to everyone. A hard working man who did everything for the benefit of those he loved, he worked throughout his career in the food industry, retiring from Kraft Foods. In his spare time he enjoyed keeping his garden, making wine every fall and going fishing and hunting.
The beloved husband of the late Emilia (Rossetti) Pepe who passed away in 2013, he was a devoted father to Lia McKay and her husband Jamie of Chestnut Hill and Elio Pepe, Jr. of Medford. He was a loving grandfather to Sean and Ryan. The dear brother of Gioacchino “Jack” Pepe and Antonio Pepe of Medford, Nicolina Grieco of Revere, Alessandro Pepe of Italy, Italia Dukas of Norwood, the late Elena and Ciriaco “Gino” Pepe, he is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Funeral service for Elio will be held privately and a memorial mass will be announced in the future. In lieu of flowers, please honor Elio’s memory by making a contribution in his name to the American Cancer Society, 3 Speen St., Suite 250, Framingham, MA 01701.