Obituary of Gerald J. Matarazzo

Gerald J. Matarazzo, Jr., age 88, of Greentown died unexpectedly Sunday, November 21, 2010, at home. He was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, the former Dolores Jablonsky, in December 2009. Born August 29, 1922, in Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of the late Gerald J. and Grace (Martire) Matarazzo. He attended New York University. He attended Citizen's Military Training Camps, Plattsburg Barracks, New York, in the Summer of 1939 and 1940. He was a US Army 5th Airforce Sergeant who served with the 317 Troop Carrier Group, Headquartered in Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines. He served active duty from 1942 through 1945. He then was in the Ready Reserve from 1949 until his Honorable Discharge in 1953. Prior to his retirement, he was employed as a mechanical design engineer by Spiral Binding Co., Totowa, NJ. He had been a Greentown resident since 1987, but had vacationed at Lake Wallenpaupack since 1938. Mr. Matarazzo was a member of BVM Queen of Peace RC Church and 4th Degree Knight of Columbus Bishop Hoban Council, past Grand Master. He was a Lifetime Charter Member of the National World War II Memorial. He was also a life member and former Commodore of the Lake Wallenpaupack Yacht Club. He is survived by two daughters: Nancy of Brooklyn, NY, and Karen of Virginia; three sons: Gerald J. III and his wife Donna of Huntington, LI, NY, William of Boonton, NJ, and Michael and his wife Giuseppina of Brooklyn, NY; a brother: Joseph and his wife Carol of Tracey, CA; 8 grandchildren: Angela, Danielle, Jason D'Antuono, William Jr., Joseph, Gerald, Mark, and Alessandro; and four great grandchildren: Teresa, Luigi Gino, Domenico, and Mia Angela. Calling hours will be Tuesday, Nov. 23, from 2 to 4 PM and 7 to 9 PM at Teeters' East Chapel, 505 Church St, Hawley, PA. The Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, Nov. 24, at 10:00 AM at BVM Queen Of Peace Roman Catholic Church, 314 Chestnut Ave, Hawley, with Rev. Richard W. Beck, Pastor, officiating. Burial will be in B.V.M. Queen Of Peace Cemetery, Hawley. Memorial donations may be made to St. Labre Indian School, PO Box 216, Ashland, MT 59003 or Southwest Indian Children's Fund, Don Stewart Association, PO Box 906, Broken Arrow, OK 74013.