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MINONKU, Ill. (WMBD) — Since 1985, Joe’s Pizza has been rooted in Minonk.
This is where Rosana Catalinicchia and her three siblings grew up. The business is owned by their father, Joe Catanicchia.
“We all grew up in the pizza business with him. [Joe] And with my mother, we learned how to do everything from an early age, and they really taught us hard work,” Rosana said.
Her father’s path to the pizza business began at an early age in Sicily, Italy. Rosana’s maternal grandfather introduced her father to pizza making.
“So, he [Joe] came [to America], he actually started in Ottawa, Illinois with my grandfather and his family. And he came to Minonk to open his own place to start his own family, ”said Rosana.
For many years, Rosana has spent her time folding pizza boxes, rolling dough, making pizza, and greeting customers.
“We make sure you’re 100 percent happy. When you walk into our home, you’re family,” Rosana said.
Having spent most of her life helping her parents and siblings run the family business, Rosana decided she wanted to branch out and create something of her own.
“We’ve always been known as Joe’s kids, or the pizza kids, so we wanted to make a mark for ourselves in the world,” she said.
In 2021, Rozana pays homage to her Italian roots by launching Cannoli’s by Rozana. The thin, crispy fried pastry is something she’s proud to share with all of Central Illinois.
![](https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2024/03/CANNOLIS-BY-ROZANA.jpg)
“I wanted them to try something Italian, something we would experience while in Sicily,” she said.
Rosana started her own business and still helps and runs her family’s restaurant.
“I make cannoli with pistachios, chocolate chips, cherries and strawberries. A cannoli is a dessert, a Sicilian pastry. It’s this pastry shell with an oblong crust and mascarpone and, you know, a filling. , a sweet filling,” she said.
Each treat is topped with powdered sugar. Because the treats are so delicate, Rosana offers a “cannoli care card” with every purchase.
Rosana said that as a small business owner, she works with other small businesses to empower small businesses.
“My goal in the cannoli business is to support mom-and-baby stores, and that’s what I think is really important about what I do,” she said.
Cannoli’s by Rozana at Joe’s Pizza Minonk is located at 511 Oak St.
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