Dina Manzo Found the Most Special Way to Honor Her Late Father
"I hope I made it like you did," The Real Housewives of New Jersey alum wrote of her culinary tribute to Joseph Laurita.
Two days after the April 20 passing of Joseph Laurita, Dina Manzo paid tribute to her late father by cooking a special dish at home in his honor.
"For you daddy," The Real Housewives of New Jersey alum captioned a video of a red sauce simmering. "I hope I made it like you did."
Dina later shared a photo of the final product, which included tomatoes, olives, and peas poured over spaghetti.
It seems the sauce was a holiday staple for the family. An emotional tribute Dina shared on her Instagram Stories, that appeared to be a portion of a eulogy for Joseph, mentioned the dish as a notable part of his legacy.
"His closest loved ones and those who knew him best will miss his bright blue eyes, (passed down to all eleven children) his big beautiful smile, the way he laughed at his own jokes, his special Christmas olive sauce, the sound of his whistling along to his Italian music playing on Sunday mornings," the tribute read. "And the strongest man they have ever known."
The day prior, Dina and her sister, Caroline Manzo, confirmed the news that their father had passed away with incredibly moving Instagram posts. "I’ll love you forever and always Daddy," Dina captioned a video of Joseph. "You can rest now."
Teresa Giudice, who also recently lost her father, Giacinto Gorga, commented on her post: "[Our] Daddy’s are together drinking wine. Love you."
Caroline, meanwhile, shared a photo of herself smiling alongside her father. "His favorite song was 'My Way' and that’s exactly how he lived his life. His way," she wrote. "A tougher man there never was, and in his final days he showed that strength over and over again. May God bless you always, Dad, and grant you eternal peace. Know that you were loved. Forever in our hearts."
