Joel Bray Marangella

Joel Bray Marangella, devoted husband to Irene, father to Joel, Mark and Paul, and Guardian of the Bahá’i Faith, passed away, Monday, September 1, 2013 at his home in San Diego, California.

A celebration of his life’s service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 6, 2013 at the North Chapel at Point Loma in San Diego, California. A private, unobserved entombment will

follow on Monday at the Greenwood Cemetery in San Diego.

Friends may call the Legacy Funeral Home at (619) 337-1400 (7043 University Ave., La Mesa, CA. 91942) for details regarding the sending of floral arrangements or other expressions of bereavement.

Joel was born September 22, 1918 in Lynn, Massachusetts to Phillip and Edith (Gurthrie) Marangella. In September 1945, he married the former Irene Maria Aducat in West Englewood, New Jersey.

Joel was a WWII veteran, where is served in the European Theatre with distinction receiving two Bronze stars. Retiring from active duty at the rank of full Colonel, Joel continued to serve as a Department of the Army civilian until 1972. Joel Marangella was also the leader, ‘the Guardian’, of the Orthodox Bahá’i Faith with a ministry spanning over 44 years. His dedicated service to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh spanned over 80 years since his early declaration as a Bahá’i at the age of 15.

He and Irene lived in France for over 18 years before moving permanently to their vacation home in Ringgenberg, in the heart of the Swiss Bernese Oberland, overlooking the Lake of Brienze.

His periodic visits to the U.S. allowed him to obtain an advanced degree (MBA) from Florida International University in 1976. A chance visit to Australia in the winter of 1983 convinced Joel and Irene that Perth, Australia was to be their new home where they lived for 30 years. During this period Joel perfected his golf game and became the oldest continuous playing member of the famous Joondalup Golf Club at the age of 90. At the age of 91,

Joel again convinced Irene that they should finally return to the United States, and they left Australia and joined their son Paul and his wife Georgia in California.

Joel is survived by his three sons, Paul Maxwell Marangella and his wife Georgia of San Diego, California; Mark Vali Marangellaand his wife Christine of Ashburn, Virginia; and Joel Jani Marangella of Perth, Australia; three grandchildren, Mason, Adam, and Phillip Marangella and two great grandchildren, Noah and Leila Marangella.