A 'LEGEND' made his final journey through the community he loved and served for more than 40 years.
Ten ice cream vans accompanied well-know ice cream seller Pasquale Marucci as he made his final journey through areas of Chandler's Ford and Eastleigh this morning.
Mr Marucci, from Chandler’s Ford passed away on January 11 aged 86.
He had been supplying ice cream to the families of Bishopstoke, Fair Oak, Bishop’s Waltham and Wickham for more than 40 years.
Led by horse and carriage, the funeral large procession and route was the idea of Mr Marucci's family, who wanted to offer the local community the chance to pay their respects in a Covid-safe way.
In a post on Facebook, his family said: "We will be taking Mr Marucci on one last journey through the areas where he sold ice cream for over 40 years, with a convoy of ice cream vans following him.
"Due to the current circumstances, (no wake allowed) we have decided this procession is the last thing we can do for everyone to pay their respects to the legend."
Generations of families who had been served by Mr Marucci were able to stand on their door steps and line their streets as the procession passed by.
The convoy left Chestnut Close at 9.30am and travelled down Chestnut Avenue onto Passfield Avenue.
The group then made their way down Leigh Road onto Romsey Road and over Bishopstoke Bridge.
The group then made a short stop at The Hub in Bishopstoke and chimed all ten vans, which could be heard streets over.
The convoy then travelled down Mr Murucci's most popular ice cream route via Harvey Road, past Sayers Park, right onto Hamilton Road then right onto Underwood Road past Stoke Park School.
The procession reached the church at around 11am.
After moving to the area from Italy in 1959, Pasquale originally got a job on a farm, before starting his own business, Marucci’s Ice Cream, in 1972.
Edana Cowey, Mr Marucci’s daughter, said: “I never realised how loved he was and what an impact he made on people’s childhoods. I’m overwhelmed by it.”
She added that all his grandchildren were very proud to call him Nonno (Italian for Grandfather).
Mr Marucci leaves behind his wife of 62 years, Pasqualina, three children, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
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