Louis M. DeJulia, Hartford, Ohio, passed away at 12:30 p.m. Thursday (2-23-12) in Sharon Regional Health System following an extended illness. He was 84.

He was born April 29, 1927 in Sharpsville the son of Dominic and Olivia Alfredo DeJulia.

A lifelong area resident, Louis graduated from Sharpsville High School. He later earned a certificate of attainment after completing the Pennsylvania course in Fire and Police procedure. Mr. DeJulia received his steam engineer license at the United States Maritime Service Training Station, Sheephead Bay, NY. He served as a steam engineer with the Merchant Marine in the North Atlantic during WWII. After serving with the Merchant Marine, he was called to duty in 1950 to serve with the United States Army in the 24th infantry division. The 24th Division's first mission was to "take the initial shock" of the North Korean assault, in Korea. A decorated veteran, he received the Purple Heart after being wounded in combat and after his honorable discharge he received several other medals and citations for his brave service to his country. He is a lifetime member of the Order of the Purple Heart Service Association, the former Hartford VFW, and the Sharpsville VFW Post 6404. Mr. DeJul!

ia couched Little League Baseball in South Pymatuning while raising his sons and was a past president of the league. He was a former member and past president of the Hartford Fire Department. He was also a member and past president of both the Hartford Optimist, and Democrat Clubs.

He was employed at the former General American Transportion Corporation's Masury Plant where he worked as a steam engineer for 38 years, he retired in 1987.

He was an active and charter member of the Church of Notre Dame, Hermitage, where he served as an usher and belonged to its Holy Name Society, 55 group, and church prayer group for many years. He also was active with the Erie Diocesan Cursillo movement and served as a coordinator in Mercer County. A gardener, he loved planting his own vegetables to share with his family and friends.

His first wife the former Marion J. Miller whom he married on January 11, 1951, passed away on February 28, 1966. He is survived at home by his second wife the former Mary D. 'Dee' Kubrin whom he married on December 11, 1970.

Also surviving are his three daughters, Beverly A. Mullen and her husband Thomas, Kathy L. Opperman and her husband Kenneth, all of Brookfield, and Darlene M. Reddinger and her husband Todd, Sharpsville, his three sons, Michael A. DeJulia and his wife Adeline, Hermitage, James P. DeJulia and his wife Sally, Brookfield, and David J. DeJulia and his wife Carrie, Sharon. He also leaves three step children, Kathy Brychta and her husband Bert, Little Falls, NJ, Patricia Ormond, and Edward Kubrin and his wife Carol, all of Cincinnati, Oh, 17 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and his first wife, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Thomas, Frank, and Dominic DeJulia, and four sisters, Santina Tuskan, Lunda Carlo, Mary Chaussard, and Delores Rapp.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Veterans Administration Youngstown Clinic, 2031 Belmont Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44505.

Calling hours: 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday (2-26-12) in the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. 1090 E. State St. Sharon.

To post a tribute or to view his obituary on line, visit the web site www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com

Services: Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Monday (2-27-12) in the Church of Notre Dame, Hermitage 2335 Highland Road, Hermitage, with Rev. Jeffery J. Noble, pastor as the celebrant. A brief prayer service will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home before leaving for the church.

Interment: St. Mary's Cemetery, Hermitage, with full military honors rendered by the Honor Guard of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6233, West Middlesex, and American Legion Post 432, Wheatland.