John M. Leferovich

John M. Leferovich, 100, of Center Valley, died Sunday morning, October 2, 2022 in his home, surrounded by the love and warmth of his family.  He is the husband of the late Josephine M. (Meluskey) Leferovich (died Aug. 10, 2009). They had been married for 66 years.  John was born in New Boston, Schuylkill County on May 12, 1922 to the late John and Mary (Simchisko) Leferovich. He graduated from Mahanoy Township High school in 1939.  He attended the Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia in 1940 until November 1942, when he enlisted in the Army during World War II, serving in in New Guinea, The Philippines and witnessed the formal surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay.  He owned and operated a clothing factory in Allentown for 20 years until retiring in 1989.  He has been a member of The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Colesville since 1952, after settling in Center Valley to raise his family.   His children and home were the center of his life and he and Josephine dedicated their lives to raising their children in faith and love. John was an avid and enthusiastic gardener into his 90s and enjoyed the yearly planting and tending his plants, especially the tomatoes and his dozens of blueberry bushes. Home projects were another pursuit.  John was a lifelong learner, he enjoyed reading and in recent years he had a drive to solve the daily word puzzles in the newspaper. He had a fierce determination to reach the age of 100 and believed to his last day that keeping an active mind contributed to that.  John will be greatly missed by his family,  but he and our mother, his beloved Josephine, will always be with us in spirit.

 SURVIVORS

Children: Carol (Richard) Benert of Upper Saucon Township,, Mark (Constance) of Upper Saucon Twp., Judith (Mario) Zaccaria of Safety Harbor, FL, Leon (Sharon) of Lower Milford Township Joanne (Eric) Reed of Washington Township, Lehigh County, John Jr. of Center Valley, with whom he resided; eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.   John was predeceased by his five younger siblings:  Marie, George, Margaret Malcolm, Eleanor Boychak, and Anne Rynn.

SERVICE      

Viewing will be 10 - 10:45 a.m.  Wednesday October 12, 2022 at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary RC Church, 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m.  The interment will be private at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown, PA.  Online expressions of sympathy can be recorded at: www.heintzelmancares.com.  The Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc., Hellertown is in charge of arrangements.