Anthony Thomas "Tony" DiCristofaro, Hermitage, formerly of Farrell, passed away on Monday (Sept. 23, 2019) in UPMC Horizon, Farrell. Tony was 91.

Tony was born on Nov. 5, 1927, in Farrell to Valerio and Rose Leone DiCristofaro.

A 1945 graduate of Farrell High School, he also took numerous extension courses at Penn State Shenango for his employment at Westinghouse Electric Corp., Sharon plant, where he was employed for more than 38 years.

Tony served in the Army during the Korean Conflict (1950-1952), being stationed at Fort Dix, N.J., and also South Korea on the demilitarized zone. He attained the rank of staff sergeant and received numerous service awards.

While at Ft. Dix, he met his future wife, Claire M. Henninger, of Westville, N.J. They were married on Oct. 25, 1952, in Baltimore by Claire's uncle, the Rev. Father John McShane, in his chapel, with immediate families present and Tony's best friend/man, Anthony "Lac" LaCamera. Claire died on Nov. 8, 2011.

While with Westinghouse, Tony started as a coil winder and then in the Industrial Engineering Department as a rate-man, then transferred to the Greenville plant until its closing in 1985. During his Westinghouse employment, he also worked numerous part-time jobs, including a business with his best friend, Lac, and Grimm's. He then was employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Assistance and retired in 1989. He was an active member of IUE 617, then the SWEA, both with Westinghouse, and PSSU during his state service.
A Catholic, Tony was a lifetime member of St. Elizabeth/Our Lady of Fatima Church, Farrell.

Tony was a life member of the Sharon American Legion 299, the Christopher Columbus Society, the First Italian Social Club of Farrell, and AARP. He was also a cook for many years for the Our Lady of Fatima school annual Carnival.

We have many wonderful memories of our father. Sunday mornings, dad was up before 5 a.m. browning meatballs and pork country ribs for the Sunday sauce. He always left two meatballs and one rib out of the sauce for his children to sample. Summers were fresh vegetables and Sunday rides for ice cream. Memories run rampant of summer vacations at Presque Isle and Niagara Falls. Dad also played thousands of card games, especially War, with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He leaves to cherish his memories: his daughters, Senior Master Sergeant, Retired, USAF, Valerie A. James, his former son-in-law, Tony, Yorktown, Va., and his daughter, Jill E. Hare (Gary), Mt. Jackson; two sisters, Marie Capson (the late Sam), Mercer, and Norma Rossetti, (the late Alex), Hermitage; grandchildren, Jade' James-Robinson (VJ),Yorktown, and Torrey James (Stephanie), Newport News, Va., Ashley Stradiot (James), Mentor, Ohio, and Brandon Hare, Mt. Jackson; his great-grandchildren Ty and Tyjah' Robinson, Yorktown, Jacob James, Newport News, and Cameron and Halle Stradiot, Mentor; nieces and nephews and many cousins.

Anthony was preceded in death by: his parents; his wife; and his beloved son, John Daniel, who passed away in February 2004.
Dad left us with this final word:

Thank God

I served my time,

I paid the price

I'm free at last

It's like Paradise

Tony

DiCristofaro

Entombment: St. Rose Cemetery Mausoleum.