Funeral Services will be held Thursday, August 3, 2023, at 6:00pm from the chapel of the Taylor Funeral Home. Visitation will be held on Thursday, from 4:00pm until time of service. To view his service Thursday at 6:00 pm, click HERE.
Vincent James Pape, age 79, of Bellevue, TN, passed away July 31, 2023.
Vincent was born at home on November 18, 1943, in Staten Island, NY to the late Joseph and Pauline Pape. He was born and raised on Staten Island, NY and was married to his high school sweetheart for 62 years. He graduated from McKee High School in Staten Island, NY. He worked for the City of New York with the Department of Sanitation; also nicknamed as “New York’s Strongest.”
He had a love of sports from an early age. He was an avid softball player. He spent many years coaching youth football and headed the high school Father's Football Club. He took great joy in watching his kids and grandkids play sports through the years. In 1988, Vincent along with his wife Carol, moved to Nashville TN. Together with family they built the first car wash in Dickson, Tennessee known to all as Pop's Car Wash.
Vincent enjoyed his later years playing golf, traveling with his wife throughout the United States and Europe. He was very proud of his home and loved to garden. His home was admired by many for the beautiful and exceptional landscaping he created. More than once he received the "Yard of the Month" recognition from his neighborhood.
Vincent had great knowledge in all professional sports. He was a dedicated sports fan to his New York teams. The Tennessee Titans became his new home team. When the Titans franchised to Nashville Vincent along with his wife Carol could be found at all the home games.
Vincent also was a member of the Brentwood YMCA and later the Bellevue YMCA. He spent many years dedicated to his health and fitness. Vincent made great friendships through the Y, some of those friendships were everlasting.
One of his absolute greatest joys in life was preparing a traditional Sunday dinner for his family. Every Sunday his children, their children and great-grandchildren would all gather together. He kept the tradition of Sunday family dinners going for many years. To his grandchildren he was known for "Pop's famous and delicious meatballs!"
His family will always remember him as "The Strongest Man They Knew"
His wife, Carol will always remember him calling her "My Darling"
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother; Paul Pape and his in-laws; Joseph & Minnie Curcio.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years; Carolyn Curcio Pape; his children; Vincent J. Pape Jr., Joseph Pape, Dena A. Pape Falletta (Vincent Falletta, III), siblings; Joan Riveria (the late Louis Riveria), Muriel Skidmore, Donna DeWaters (William DeWaters), brother in laws; Joseph Curcio (Melissa Stewart Curcio), James Curcio, sister in laws; Betty Maolney, Maryann Pape, 10 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, along with many nephews and nieces.
