They announced their split in December 2019 after 20 years of marriage and each of them serving time in prison for fraud.
But that hasn’t soured Teresa Giudice from honoring her estranged husband, Joe Giudice, on Father’s Day in a touching Instagram post.
‘Happy Fathers Day @joe.giudice,’ the Real Housewives of New Jersey star captioned a photo of Joe with their four daughters, Gia, 19, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 14, and Audriana, 10.
‘The girls miss you today & every day!’
Sweet sentiment: Teresa Giudice paid tribute to her estranged husband, Joe Giudice, on Father’s Day by posting photo of him with their four daughters
Joe, who has been living in his native Italy since his release from ICE custody late last year, was quick to respond by complimenting his estranged wife and their daughters.
‘Thank you for being my angels, for showing the world you are superstars,’ the 48-year-old wrote along with the hashtags, ‘#bestdaughters #thankyoubestmomever.’
The former couple’s oldest daughter Gia also paid tribute to her father, as well as the two other father figures in her life: her uncle, Joe Gorga, and her late grandfather, Giacinto ‘Nonno’ Gorga.
Returning the compliment: Joe was quick to respond to his estranged wife’s post by complimenting her and their daughters; he is pictured with daughters, Gia, 19, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 14, and Audriana, 10
Doting daughter: Oldest daughter, Gia Giudice, also paid tribute to her father
‘Happy Father’s Day to the most amazing people in my life and souls who keep me going every single day! Dad thank you for showing me how to show strength, Nonno thank you for always pushing me to be my best self, and Zio Joe thank you for being there when I always need you,’ Gia wrote.
She ended with an emotional message to her Nonno, who recently passed away in April.
‘Nonno today and everyday I speak to you and thank you for everything you taught me, you are one and a million, and I miss you so much everyday.’
She added, ‘Thank you all so much for making me the person I am today. I love you Nonno I’m celebrating you today and everyday.’
Grateful: Gia, 19, also honored the two other father figures in her life: her uncle, Joe Gorga, and her late grandfather, Giacinto ‘Nonno’ Gorga, who passed away in April
Joe was deported back to Italy last October after spending seven months in Immigration And Customs Enforcement custody following a 36-month prison stint for conspiracy to commit wire and bankruptcy fraud.
He served his sentence right after Teresa finished 11-months of a 15-month prison sentence for fraud. The judge in the case allowed them to serve separately so their children would have at least one parent in the house.
Once they were both free, Joe, Teresa and their girls reunited in Joe’s adopted new home of Salerno, a port city southeast of Naples.
‘Teresa and Joe talked about their future when she and the girls were in Italy and decided it was best for them to separate,’ a source told Us Weekly at the time of their split.
‘Neither of them wanted to be in a long-distance relationship. They harbor no ill will toward each other and will continue to coparent their kids.’
The divorce proceedings are still ongoing.
Tough times: Both Joe and Teresa spent time in prison for fraud, serving back-to-back sentences so that one parent at a time could be home with the children; they are pictured coming out of a New Jersey courthouse in March 2014