Joseph F. Pagnani, Sr., 91, of Covington Township, passed away Tuesday, July 12, 2016 in Hospice of the Sacred Heart Inpatient Unit, Dunmore. Joseph F. Pagnani, Sr. Born in Pittston on September 27, 1924, he was the son of the late Joseph and Alfonsina DeLia Pagnani.
He was a graduate of Pittston High School and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After World War II he attended trade school where he learned to be a butcher. He had worked for many years for the Giant Supermarkets as a Supervisor. He later opened his own grocery store in Throop. After the closure of his grocery store, he opened the Pagnani Gun Shop in the Greenwood section of Moosic.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and uncle and will be greatly missed.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Theresa Bartoli Pagnani; brother, Samuel Pagnani and sister, Mary Pagnani.
Surviving are his children, Joseph Pagnani, Jr. and his wife Sandra, South Abington Township; Deborah Ceccarelli, Naples, FL; and Theresa Driebe and her husband, Tom, Peckville; grandchildren, Danielle Fisne and her husband Michael; Julia Pagnani; David Scott Ceccarelli and his wife Alicia; Anthony Ceccarelli and his wife Aimee; and Tara Kaiser and her husband, Brian; 6 great-grandchildren; sister, Bridget Sassi, Inkerman; numerous nieces, nephews, and his companion and caregiver Catherine Kneeland.
Funeral services will be Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 9am from the Peter J. Adonizio Funeral Home, 251 William Street, Pittston with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30am in St. Joseph Marello Parish, 237 William Street, Pittston. Entombment will follow in Italian American Cemetery, Scranton. Friends may call Friday, July 15, 2016 from 5pm-8pm at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.