Obituary of Anthony John Folcarelli

Anthony J. Folcarelli, Sr., 82, of Mansfield, PA, died Friday, October 23, 2009 at Bath VA Medical Center in Bath, NY. He had formerly lived in Philadelphia, Hatfield and Telford, PA. Born in Philadelphia in 1927, he was the oldest child, son of the late Joseph and Mary (DiTullio) Folcarelli who moved to Hatfield in 1938. He was a Veteran of World War II, having joined the US Navy when he was 17, being a signalman aboard the USS Taconic communications ship. He later graduated from Hatfield High School with the class of 1947. He was an artist who attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the Philadelphia Museum College of Art. He married Carolyn L. Linder in 1954 after becoming a Master Plumber, establishing Anthony J. Folcarelli Plumbing & Heating Co., and toiled away raising his own family of 6 children in Telford, PA, where he lived for over 40 years until he and his wife retired to their mountain home and farm in Mansfield in 1998. He was a true outdoorsman who loved fishing, hunting, raising animals on his farm (especially horses) and was an avid vegetable and flower gardener his whole life. He took great pride in tending his property. In the 1960s he operated "Joe's Italian Treat" pizzeria with his father and Carolyn. He loved cooking and baking his whole life longand evenbuilt a bakery in his Mansfield barn. He belonged to St. Marie Goretti Parish in Hatfield, PA for 45 years until he moved to Mansfield where he joined Holy Child Church. He was a member of the American Legion and the Moose Lodge. He will be forever remembered as a loving husband, a wonderful provider, the BEST father, and a hard-working man with a huge heart of gold, who was loved greatly by all of his family and his many friends. He was a man of the earth who never sat still, always busy working on his own projects, while helping others with theirs. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his youngest daughter Dolores and his brother Joseph. He is survived by his wife of over 55 years, Carolyn, and their 3 daughters and 2 sons, 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren: DebbiePalombo, husband Larryand sons Matthew and Nathaniel of Tampa, FL; AnthonyJ. Folcarelli, Jr., daughter Morgan of Mansfield, PA; Carol Ann Haber, husband James and sons Jared and Travis of Perkiomenville, PA; Joseph Folcarelli, wife Lori of Mansfield, PA and their children Randi Lea Brauchle (husband Steve and daughters Julianna and Allison) of Elkland, PA, Amy, of FL and Joseph in the US Army, AL; Maria Carreras and her children Moises (partner Sonia Henson, her daughter Makenna) and Regina (partner Michael Hamm and their children Mason and Olivia) all of PA. He is also survived by his sister and 3 brothers: Susan Bishop (husband Dick); Ralph Folcarelli (wife Carol); Richard Folcarelli; and John Folcarelli (wife Sandi); as well as his wife's brother and 4 sisters: Howard Linder, Jr. (partner Sophie); Lois Royer (husband Don); Mary Yerk (husband Lamar); Florence Lynch (husband Jack) and Lollie Snyder (husband James) and many, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews. Anthony had a large family who loved himdearly and he will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to Bath VA Medical Center, Voluntary Services, 76 Veterans Avenue, Bath, NY 14810. All services will take place at the Jacquelyn A Buckheit Funeral Chapel, 637 S. Main Street, Mansfield, PA. The family will receive friends from 7-9 PM Friday, November 6, 2009. A Memorial Service with military honors will be held Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 10 AM. www.buckheitfcandcrematory.com