Anthony F. 'Ace' DiMario, a longtime resident of Hermitage, passed away peacefully at 12:25 a.m. Wednesday, February 22, 2012, in John XXIII Home, 2250 Shenango Valley Freeway, Hermitage. He was 86.
Mr. DiMario was born May 4, 1925 in Farrell the only child of the late Mario and Mary Garfoli DiMario.
Due to the death of his mother at the age of 5, he then moved to Sharpsville with his maternal grandparents who played a significant role in his upbringing.
He was a 1944 graduate of Farrell High School and served with the US Coast Guard's North Atlantic Patrol during WW II in Greenland.
Mr. DiMario and his wife owned and operated the former Tastee Bakery in downtown Sharon for many years; a bakery that had been in the family for 87 years.
A devout catholic, he was a member of the Church of Notre Dame, Hermitage; and the Knights of Columbus, Council # 684, Sharon, where he was a 4th degree member of its Sharon Assembly.
He was also a member of the Catholic Italian American War Vets, the Italian Home, Farrell; and the Sons of Italy, Shenango Valley Lodge, Sharon.
Mr. DiMario was very devoted to his family and, along with his wife, provided a very loving home. He was a gentleman and a dear friend to many.
His wife, the former Melba F. Liberatore, whom he married in the former St. Joseph Church on August 30, 1947, passed away August 22, 2002.
Surviving are: three children and their spouses, Mary Frances Tonty and her husband Fred; Mark A. DiMario and his wife Colleen; and Margaret A. 'Ranny' Heutsche and her husband Attorney Victor Heutsche, all Sharon.
He also leaves eight grandchildren, Aimee Taylor and her husband Rick; Jamie Dicks and his wife Sara; Anthony DiMario and his wife Erica; Nicole DiMario, Mark DiMario, John Heutsche and his wife Kenzie; Victor Heutsche and Matthew Heutsche; and four great grandchildren, Jeffrey Parry, Tyler Reardon, Shelby Reardon and Marcus Taylor.
Besides his parents and wife, Mr. DiMario was preceded in death by his step-mother, Erna DiMario.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Knights of Columbus, 1073 Division St., Sharon, PA 16146.
Calling hours will be from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday, February 24, 2012 in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon, where a Rosary will be recited at 8:45 p.m. by the Knights of Columbus.
Friends may email condolences by visiting www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 25, 2012 in the Church of Notre Dame, Hermitage, with Msgr. Edward J. Zeitler, senior associate, as celebrant.
Interment: St. Rose Cemetery, Hermitage, with military honors rendered by the West Middlesex VFW and the Wheatland American Legion Honor Guard.