Mabel Nevon Arico

ARICO, MABEL - age 86 of Farragut, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday March 21, 2026, from the impacts of Alzheimer’s. She was a founding member of Saint John Neumann Catholic Church. Mabel was born on November 22, 1939 in Blackwater, VA. As a teenager, Mabel Nevon Bishop met a young soldier who had the good fortune of being stationed in Baltimore, Maryland. Joe Arico, an Italian immigrant who settled in Chicago, married Mabel in Baltimore on December 21, 1957, and they settled in the West side of Chicago after Joe completed his tour of duty. Mabel and Joe started their family in Chicago and there began a long journey in the restaurant business forming a partnership with friends and opening Italia Pizzeria on the South Side of Chicago. The 1960s saw Chicago torn by civil unrest and they sought a better life for their young family and moved to Newport, Tennessee where Mabel had family. Once again Joe and Mabel invested in a restaurant and for two years operated the Holiday Inn restaurant in downtown Newport. In 1973 Mabel and Joe moved the family to Farragut where they bought their own business, Dender's Drive Inn at Dixie Lee Junction. They quickly went about changing the business to a Chicago Style Pizzeria and named it Little Joe's Pizza which has served the Farragut community for over 50 years. Mabel was a devoted wife, mother, business partner, and active citizen in the rapidly growing Farragut community. She stressed education and saw all four of her children earn Civil Engineering degrees from the University of Tennessee while working for the family business. Mabel was a volunteer on various committees as Farragut incorporated and grew into a thriving town. She also supported the community as a regular participant in such events as A Taste of Farragut and too many school, church, soccer, and community fundraisers to mention. But her greatest legacy is the title she wore most proudly, Grandma! She planned and hosted the greatest vacations, cooked and served the greatest feasts, and became a Zelda video game master so she could play with her grandkids well into her 80s. This skill won her the rating of coolest grandma on many occasions as her grandchildren bragged about her gaming skills to their friends. Mabel is preceded in death by her husband Joe Arico, son Joseph Anthony Arico, grandson Anthony Lee Inklebarger and brother George Bishop. She is survived by son Richard Joseph Arico; daughters Gina Arico Inklebarger and Laura Arico Presley; their spouses Randy Inklebarger, Travis Presley, and Andrea Bramante; grandchildren Christopher Inklebarger and his wife Bridget Guerin Inklebarger, Aleena Arico, Jacob Presley, and Anna Presley; great-grandchildren; Ella and Laine Inklebarger; sisters, Norma McAlister, Della Ingrando, Ella Irvine, Meg Chaillow; brothers Kenny Bishop and Glen Bishop; and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to express appreciation to Morning Pointe Memory Care and Shalom Hospice and both their kind staff. The family will receive friends from12:00 to 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 28, 2026, with a Christian Prayer service at 2:00 pm at Rose Funeral & Cremation - Mann, with burial following at Edgewood Cemetery at 3:00 pm. Online condolences may be extended at www.rosefuneraltn.com

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Mabel Nevon Arico

March 21, 2026