Paul V. Difuccia Sr

Paul V. DiFuccia Sr.

Paul V. DiFuccia, Sr., 90, of Erie, passed away on March 25, 2013 in the hospice unit of the Veterans Administration Medical Center, following several months at St. Mary's at Asbury Ridge. Born November 19, 1923 in Naples, Italy, he was the son of the late Vincent and Philomena Vallone DiFuccia.

Paul served with the Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater during World War II, and was awarded the Purple Heart for bravery at Iwo Jima.

He was a draftsman at General Electric and later manager of purchasing and receiving at Firch Baking Company in Erie.

A self-made and self-directed man, Paul was an avid and accomplished gardener, who could make even a dried twig flourish. He enjoyed walking, the New York Yankees, playing poker and, in his later years, going to the casino.

Paul was a devoted husband, caring for his ailing wife during her extended illness with cancer. Education was important to him and he worked selflessly so his children would have the best education available. He was a man who always put his family ahead of his own needs. He was a member of Saint Peter Cathedral for 64 years.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Mary R. Mobilia DiFuccia; his dear friend, Mary Cada; two brothers, James and Nello DiFuccia and a sister, Margaret Krolak.

He is survived by his three children; Phyllis DiFuccia, SSJ, of Cleveland, OH; Paul V. DiFuccia, Jr. (wife Janice) and Joseph A. DiFuccia (fiancée Gina Gianoglio Hamrock), of Erie; a sister, Mary Noziglia of Arkansas; a brother, Frank DiFuccia of Montoursville, PA; six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. with a prayer and sharing of memories at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday at Saint Peter Cathedral, 230 West 10th Street, at 10 a.m. Entombment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Sisters of Saint Joseph Neighborhood Network Community Gardens Fund, 425 West 18th Street, Erie, PA 16502.