John V. Graziano
John V. Graziano, 88, of Jeannette, Pa., passed away peacefully Friday, December 16, 2016 at his home.
He was born June 10, 1928 in Dunbar, Pa., the son of John S. and Anna M. (Bell) Graziano.
John founded the John V. Graziano Funeral Home in Jeannette in 1961 and served the Jeannette community and surrounding areas until his retirement just a few years ago. His home was above the funeral home so you could say he was involved in the day-to-day operations of the business until his passing.
He was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association, and the Westmoreland-Indiana-Armstrong County Funeral Directors Association where he served as President in 1970.
John was a veteran of the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He was stationed in Paris where he served as an embalmer for United States servicemen and their families who passed away in Europe.
He was a faithful member of the Ascension Roman Catholic Church in Jeannette where he was a member of the Holy Name Society, formerly served as an usher, and on the Italian Festival committee.
He was an active member of The Knights of Columbus Council 1222 and the Saint Vincent Assembly 918 4th Degree Knights of Columbus.
He served on the Board of Directors of the former Jeannette Community Home Health Care for 27 years, and was a Charter Member of the Dante Aligheri Italian Sons and Daughters of America Lodge No. 244.
He was a past member and Exalted Ruler of the former Jeannette Elks Lodge No. 486 and a current member of the Norwin Elks Lodge 2313.
Other memberships include the Jeannette American Legion Post 344, the M & S Club where he played in the Bocce League, the Jeannette Polish Club, the Jeannette Italian Club, the Greensburg Country Club, and the Jeannette Eagles Club.
His favorite pastimes included playing gin rummy, shuffleboard, and bocce. He also enjoyed golfing, wine making, Canadian fishing trips, weekly lunch with his friends, family gettogethers, sipping on a good Scotch, and old westerns on TV.
His humility and generosity will be remembered by all who knew him and considered him a friend.
John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jean V. (Patton) Graziano in 1995; and his sister, Col. Joan M. Graziano in 2009.
He is survived by three children: John A. Graziano and his wife Lisa of Latrobe, Pa., Lynn D. Cook and her husband James of Jeannette, and James P. Graziano and his wife Kimberly of Jeannette; eight grandchildren: Maria, Anna and John N. Graziano, Dominica and Nicolette Cook, and Emily, Nicholas, and Patton Graziano; two sisters-in-law: Flora Lee Cioffi and her husband Vince of Derry, Pa., and Mary Grace Bartoo of Plano, Texas; his cousins Patty Ann Toprani, Mary Lou Bell, and Ronald Graziano; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received today from 6 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the JOHN V. GRAZIANO FUNERAL HOME, INC., 228 North 2nd Street, Jeannette.
St. Vincent Assembly 918 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Color Corps will stand guard Tuesday from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. at which time members of The Knights of Columbus Council 1222 will hold a service in the funeral home.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday in the Ascension Catholic Church, 615 Division Street, Jeannette.
Interment will follow in St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure at www.info-komen.org or American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org
To post an online condolence, please visit www.johnvgraziano funeralhomeinc.com or www.hartman-graziano funeral home.com