Vincent Orlando ‘Chancy’ D’Auria Jr.
Vincent Orlando D’Auria Jr., ‘Chancy’, the son of Vincenzo and Antoinette D’Auria, passed away on Thursday, May 3, 2012 a t t h e Uniontown Hospital after a brief illness.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Rita; two brothers, Patrick and Thomas; sister-in-law, Delma; beloved daughter, Nancie Jane; and his beloved son-in-law, William ‘Bill’ P. Hutchinson.
Vincent was born February 18, 1922 in Uniontown, Pa.
In 1935, he met the love of his life, Nancy Jean King, who became his loving and devoted wife in 1943. Together they celebrated 69 years of a beautiful marriage in April; their marriage was a love story that was one in a million.
Vincent graduated from Uniontown High School in 1939 and attended Waynesburg College.
He proudly served his country in World War II as a soldier of the United States Army Air Corps until the war ended serving in the European Theatre of Operations with most of his time in Italy.
He returned to his home town and joined the family business, D’Auria Leather Company.
He became a Salesman at JJ Sales until embarking in his career with Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Labor and Industry, as an inspector and OSHA instructor until his retirement. Most people don’t enjoy seeing the building inspector arrive, but they all knew that ‘Vince’ would be fair and honest. His motto was ‘safety first’.
First and foremost was the love of his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather uncle and friend to all.
His smile was contagious! He lived his life with integrity, honesty, and was a gentleman in every sense of the word.
He was a lifelong member of Saint Theresa Catholic Church and a member of The Sons of Italy where his father was one of the Founding Members and where he enjoyed spending time with his fellow ‘compagnos’.
He had a lifelong love of jazz, his favorite being Stan Kenton and his Orchestra, who was a personal friend.
He was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan and over the years attended games with family, always rooting for the black and gold.
He was also a Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins fan.
He was famous for his spaghetti and meatballs from his mother’s recipe, which he shared with family members to carry on the tradition.
He is survived by his loving wife Nancy Jean of 69 years; three loving daughters: Patricia D’Auria Hutchinson, Marian L. D’Auria and her companion Jimmy Daniel, Susan M. D’Auria Pellegreen and husband Earl Pellegreen; eight grandchildren: Bill Hutchinson and wife Erica, Melissa Keith and husband Brent, Jane Cluss Gasch and husband Tommy, Noah Proud, Ian V. Custer and wife Nichole, Nathan Custer, Alyssa M. Schooley, Ryan Schooley and wife Natalia; 11 great grandchildren: Garret and Mia Hutchinson, E m i l y and Hannah Keith, Lyndey and Conner Proud, Aubrie and Gabbie Custer, Brooklyn and Jaxson Rodamer, and Kennedy Ross Schooley.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANDREW D. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC., 80 Morgantown Street, Uniontown, Pa.
The family will receive friends in the Funeral Home on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 from 9 until 9:30 a.m.
A Mass celebrating Vincent’s life will follow at 10 a.m. in the St. Therese de Lisieux Roman Catholic Church, Mill Street, with Monsignor Michael W. Matusak, V.F., Pastor, as Celebrant.
Full Military Rites will be accorded by General George C. Marshall AMVETS Post 103 of Hopwood in Oak Grove Cemetery, Uniontown.
Parish Wake Service will be held in the Funeral Home on Monday at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mr. D’Auria’s memory to: Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Attention: 2012 DC Purple Stride/Team Hutch, 1500 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or the Uniontown Public Library, 24 Jefferson Street, Uniontown, PA 15401.