"Real Housewives of New Jersey" stars Teresa Guidice and Joe Gorga are mourning the loss of their father, Giacinto Gorga.
In an Instagram post Friday, Giudice wrote that her father, whom her four daughters called "nonno," had died "peacefully" one day after she revealed that he was "struggling."
The Gorga family matriarch, Antonia Gorga, died in 2017.
"My father, my protector, my hero, God took you early this morning to be with mommy," Giudice wrote on Instagram. "I have so many amazing thoughts of you, every day seeing you in the kitchen at my home, teaching my girls to cook, my partner in crime on shopping trips, your love of the shore & my travel buddy."
"You always wanted everyone to have a good time, eat great food, have a stiff drink and enjoy life," she continued. "You are the absolute strongest man I know & I know you missed mommy so much but you stayed for us."
Added Gorga in a post of his own: "The world lost an amazing man human being today. He was exactly what a true father and husband should be. I will miss you more than you know, But go find your wife because I know that’s all you want and all you’ve ever talked about for the past 3 years. You will be missed every single day."
In addition to being a father to Giudice, 47, and Joe Gorga, 40, Giacinto Gorga was a grandfather to Giudice's daughters Gia, 19, Gabriella, 16, Milania, 15, and Audriana, 11; and Joe Gorga's children Antonia, 14, Gino, 12, and Joey, 9. He was also a father-in-law to Joe Gorga's wife, Melissa, and Giudice's estranged husband, Joe Giudice.
Since his wife died, Giacinto Gorga had been living with his daughter, and appeared on "The Real Housewives of New Jersey."
