Anthony Petrone

Anthony Petrone Jr., 75, died Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at Commonwealth Home Health & Hospice of NEPA shortly after being admitted. His wife of 39 years is the former Patricia Ellen Drury. They had been residents of South Abington Twp. since 1991.

Born May 18, 1937, in Queens, N.Y., son of the late Anthony and Jennie Ciccone Petrone, he was a 1956 graduate of Andrew Jackson High School, Queens, and later furthered his studies in electrical engineering at Hofstra University, Farmingdale Technical School and Queens College. He was employed more than 31 years by Grumman Manufacturing, where he worked as an electrical mechanical designer. During his professional career he received many honors for his work. He was most proud to have worked on the ground support team for Apollo 13 and receive recognition, which included having his name on a plaque placed on the moon.

He was a faithful member of Our Lady of the Snows Parish, Clarks Summit, where he was a dedicated Eucharistic minister, member of the Men's Club, an adult acolyte and supporter of the Tiny Team Christmas program. He also served for many years as a Eucharistic minister and guitar player for the youth music ministry at his former parish, Our Lady Perpetual Help, Lindenhurst, N.Y. He was a faithful regular at the First Friday Mass Men's Group and Tuesday luncheons with the retirees of Grumman.

A loving husband, devoted father and grandfather, Anthony will be sadly missed for his kind and gentle ways. He was a self-taught musician from an early age, and enjoyed playing guitar, the piano/keyboard and most of all, accordion. One of his greatest joys was playing for family gatherings, providing entertainment for all. He was also an avid chess player, and in his youth enjoyed time on his boat with family and friends. Tony was a "Mr. Fix-It" to all those close to him, and often created a solution for just about anything broken.

Also surviving are his son, Anthony III; daughters, Cara Marie and Jennie; his brother, Joseph Petrone; sisters, Jean Rizzuti, Virginia Parlato, Gloria Rampolla and Rosemary Perry; and grandchildren, Cheyanne and Angelo Matisko; all live outside of state. He also has numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Our Lady of the Snows Church, 301 S. State St., Clarks Summit, by the Rev. Jeffrey Tudgay. The family will receive relatives and friends Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 at Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Service Inc., 111 Colburn Ave., Clarks Summit. The family will also receive relatives and friends in the gathering room of the Church following Mass.

Additional services will be held at the D'Andrea Bros. Funeral Home, 99 Oak St., Copiague, NY 11726, and a committal service and interment will be scheduled at St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, N.Y.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Snows Parish, 301 S. State St., Clarks Summit, PA 18411; or Make-A-Wish Foundation, 1327 Pittston Ave., Scranton, PA 18505.