ELBRIDGE - A bagpipe filled the air with the somber melody of “Amazing Grace” while a light breeze swept through a pavilion full of nearly 50 community members who came out to support the survivors of a local family left suffering in the wake of last week's murder of Joe and Jo Ellen Bisesi.
Nate Robson / The Citizen
Residents from Jordan and Elbridge gather at a vigil to honor and remember Joe and Jo Ellen Bisesi, who were murdered at their residence in Elbridge last week. The reverends Katherine Day and Jim Stone conducted a service for the grieving family and community.
Residents from Jordan and Elbridge gather at a vigil to honor and remember Joe and Jo Ellen Bisesi, who were murdered at their residence in Elbridge last week. The reverends Katherine Day and Jim Stone conducted a service for the grieving family and community.
The prayer vigil, which was hosted by the reverends Katherine Day and Jim Stone, brought the Jordan and Elbridge communities together in a small park, a mile south of the Bisesi residence on Sand Bank Road where the couple's bodies were discovered by relatives in the side yard.
“We are representing the community churches,” Day said. “When this horror happened, I knew there were a lot of hurting people.”
During her readings, Day said it was important that the family and community members did not place blame on themselves or others for the murder by thinking “if only I had done more,” and instead, everyone should focus on healing.
As scriptures and prayers were read to bring hope and support to the family, the community lit candles in honor of the victims. A prayer was also spoken for Joe Bisesi III, who is accused of killing both of his parents.
“We ask for the healing of Joey, both of mind and spirit,” Day said during a prayer. “We can only hold him up to your love. We pray for your strength, love and guidance.”
Dale Burl, a Jordan resident who knew the family, said he believed it was important to pray for both the victims, their family and those accused of committing the crime.
“It's important to give support to the family, (their daughter) Gina, and for Joe,” Burl said. “It's a terrible thing what he did, but he needs to be free of it an move on.”
Barbara McNichol, of Elbridge, said she never knew the Bisesis but believed it was important that she came out to show her support for the family.
“Jordan-Elbridge is a small, tight woven community, and this was a thing I knew I should do,” McNichol said. “It's unbelievable that something like this happened in our little village. Things like that don't happen in small places like this. I am so sorry for the family.”
Funeral services for the Bisesi couple will be held at 9:30 Tuesday, July 29, at the Pirro & Sons Funeral Home, 1500 Park St., Syracuse, with a Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 a.m. in Syracuse's St. Rose of Lima Church. Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today, at the funeral home.
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
“We are representing the community churches,” Day said. “When this horror happened, I knew there were a lot of hurting people.”
During her readings, Day said it was important that the family and community members did not place blame on themselves or others for the murder by thinking “if only I had done more,” and instead, everyone should focus on healing.
As scriptures and prayers were read to bring hope and support to the family, the community lit candles in honor of the victims. A prayer was also spoken for Joe Bisesi III, who is accused of killing both of his parents.
“We ask for the healing of Joey, both of mind and spirit,” Day said during a prayer. “We can only hold him up to your love. We pray for your strength, love and guidance.”
Dale Burl, a Jordan resident who knew the family, said he believed it was important to pray for both the victims, their family and those accused of committing the crime.
“It's important to give support to the family, (their daughter) Gina, and for Joe,” Burl said. “It's a terrible thing what he did, but he needs to be free of it an move on.”
Barbara McNichol, of Elbridge, said she never knew the Bisesis but believed it was important that she came out to show her support for the family.
“Jordan-Elbridge is a small, tight woven community, and this was a thing I knew I should do,” McNichol said. “It's unbelievable that something like this happened in our little village. Things like that don't happen in small places like this. I am so sorry for the family.”
Funeral services for the Bisesi couple will be held at 9:30 Tuesday, July 29, at the Pirro & Sons Funeral Home, 1500 Park St., Syracuse, with a Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 a.m. in Syracuse's St. Rose of Lima Church. Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today, at the funeral home.
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
