Michael Joseph Signoretto

September 30, 1938 - June 8, 2024

Michael Joseph Signoretto entered the presence of his Savior, Jesus Christ,
on June 8, 2024, with his wife, Deede, friends and family by his side, after
6 ½ brave years on dialysis. His family was by his bedside at home for the
last four days of his life, as well as a handful of close friends. He was
encouraged with FaceTime calls, visits, prayer, Scripture reading, and
hymns. The week before, all his children, grands and family from New
Jersey surrounded him with love and laughter while singing Sinatra songs.
Michael's parents were both born in Italy. His mother Anna came through
Ellis Island at age 5, and his father Francesco jumped ship in New York
Harbor at age 21. Michael was a proud first generation American. He was
born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised with a large extended family
in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, which was an all-Italian neighborhood at that
time.
Michael followed in his grandfather's footsteps and became a bricklayer as
a teen. His grandfather laid brick for the Empire State Building and an
atomic bomb plant in Maryland. Michael's entrepreneurial career started
with his first construction company, completing many projects across
Brooklyn and New York City. He also began a car service business in a
key Manhattan building called Waterside.
Michael's winsomeness and warm heart won him many lifelong friends.
He treated everyone with respect and kindness whether they were the
CEO or the janitor. His humility, genuineness, generosity, and quick wit
were the hallmarks of who he was. He loved people and they loved him in
return. "Mikey's" sense of humor was hilariously one of a kind. A close
friend told us this week, "98% of people enter a room, 1.99% light up a
room, but Mikey was the .01% that blew up a room." He lived life to the
hilt and was full of fun even to the end. When the nurse asked him to raise
his arms up he quipped, "Is this a stick up?" She responded, "Why, do you
have any money?"
Michael could open any door with his disarming way with people. He was
infamous for getting out of traffic tickets by cajoling the State Trooper or
CHP, once by asking the officer to give him a break because his mother-inlaw was in the car. No ticket of course!
Michael was also known for his legendary stories. While visiting our home,
Elisabeth Elliot once asked him if all his stories were true, to which he replied
incredulously, "of course!"

A Celebration of Life will take place at First Baptist Church of Dallas in the Historic Sanctuary on June 21, 2024 at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, you may honor Michael's life by giving to: Hope for the Heart at hopefortheheart.org  or American Kidney Fund at secure.kidneyfund.org

So Long

So long, so long fair friend

You've been called on Home ahead

My soul would follow if it might

Your gain's brought Heaven into sight

So long, so long fair friend

You've already rounded Glory's bend

And in Christ's presence did awake

WIth no more sin to dim His face

So long, so long fair friend

I'll miss you time and time again

Yet now you're in our Lord's embrace

Oh, I can hardly wait

So long, but not an end

We'll be friends forever then

Jesus paid our sin's high price

That we, with Him, will rise

So long will be eternity

For two sinners such as we

To sing our risen Savior's praise

That we should share eternal days

By Deede Signoretto