John A. Gerace

John A. Gerace, 88 of Pottsville, died Sunday at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown.

He was born March 5, 1937, in Palo Alto a son of the late Dominic and Mary Joy Gerace.

He was a graduate of Pottsville High School.

He was a navy veteran having served aboard the U.S.S. Albany CA-123 and the U.S.S. New Jersey BB-62. John later revisited the U.S.S. New Jersey when it became a museum ship in Camden, NJ.

John was a self-employed contractor for many years in Pottsville prior to retiring.

John was a member of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Andrew, Peter, and Joseph Gerace, Josephine Bercher, Catherine Smith and Marie Nocket.

Surviving are his wife of 55 years Joyce Drahuschak Gerace; 2 sons, Joel Gerace and his wife Jennifer, Enola; Jared Gerace and his wife Kristen, Pottsville; 2 grandsons, Dylan and Gavin Gerace; nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 11AM from St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, with Rev. Kevin J. Bobbin as celebrant. Family and friends are invited to a viewing from 9AM-10:45AM at the church. There will be no viewing from the funeral home. Interment with military honors will follow in St. John No. 2 Cemetery, Pottsville. The family would prefer remembrances in the form of contributions in memory of John be made to St. John Memorial Fund, 913 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, PA 17901.