Obituary of John D. DiPasquale, Sr.

John D. DiPasquale Sr., age 93 of Mount Pleasant, PA, died Tuesday November 1, 2016 in Select Specialty Hospital at Latrobe, PA. Mr. DiPasquale was born September 16, 1923 in Connellsville, PA, the son of the late Danato and Carmella Christopher DiPasquale. He was a member of St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church and its Holy Name Society. John was a 1942 graduate of the former Ramsay High School. He was a proud veteran of WWII who served in the United States Army, participating in the D-Day Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge. John received the Middle Eastern Service Medal and was awarded five bronze stars. He had worked as a cabinet maker for Valley Kitchens. John was a devout Catholic who was very active in his Church, formerly St. Bernardines', and currently St Pius X Parish. He has the distinction of being the very first Church Cantor in the Greensburg Diocese, where he also served as a lector and a Member of the Holy Name Society for many years. He always enjoyed lending a hand at festival time, and could always be found there either working or visiting. He was a lifelong member and volunteer for the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department and the Fireman's Club, working their street fair and helping to raise funds for their projects for over 60 years. John has been recognized on numerous occasions for his dedication and devotion to local sports, his volunteer work and Church activities. He was named National Volunteer of the Year in 1988 for his 40 years of volunteer service with the Mount Pleasant Little League Baseball, of which he was a founding member. During those years he acted as coach, umpire and manager. John shared 61 years of his life helping with the Mount Pleasant Area High School Football Program, where he served as an announcer, equipment manager, and a member of the "chain gang". He prided himself on knowing every student athletes name that played at Mount Pleasant. One of the biggest thrills he experienced was when the Mount Pleasant Viking Football Team won the AAA Titles in 1983 and 1986. John also helped at the Viking wrestling matches running the clock for over 30 years He was also active in the Track and Field and Baseball programs at Mount Pleasant. John was a true Mount Pleasant Viking and very well could be the sports programs biggest supporter. John was also the recipient of the BPOE "Citizen of the Year" award. He is survived by his loving family: his son, John D. DiPasquale, Jr. and his wife Sandra, and his daughter-in-law , Lori Brush DiPasquale, all of Mt. Pleasant, his beloved grandchildren; Michael DiPasquale (Billie), Stacey DiPasquale, Tyler DiPasquale, Brian Wood (Amber), and Brad Wood, and by his great grandchildren, Mason, Jonathan, and Max. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Siecinski DiPasquale in 2014, his son, Lawrence "Dago" DiPasquale, his grandson, Jonathan DiPasquale, his daughter in law, Linda Ceroni DiPasquale, his brothers, Bernard and Frank DiPasquale, and by his sister, Camilla DiPasquale Fornal. Family and friends will be received Friday from 1 until 8 PM at the Galone-Caruso Funeral Home, 204 Eagle Street, Mount Pleasant. A blessing service will be held Saturday at 12-Noon in the funeral home, followed by John's Funeral Mass at 12:30 PM in St. Pius X R C Church, Mount Pleasant, with the Rev. Richard J. Kosisko as celebrant. Interment with military rites accorded by the American Legion Post 446 will be in the St. Pius X Parish Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant. A parish wake service will be held in the funeral home Friday at 3PM. To offer an online condolence, please visit our web site at: www.galone-carusofuneralhome.com