Richard Corazza

1921 - 2015

Corazza, Richard Corazza, Richard ERichard Edward Corazza, age 94, passed away on November 3, 2015 after a brief illness. His peaceful, calm nature and bright-eyed smile remained to the end. He was born in Freeland, Pennsylvania on July 19, 1921 to a Tyrolean immigrant and a Tyrolean immigrant's daughter. He joined a family of 2 sisters and 5 brothers. From 1940-41 he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps in Virginia and also Lake Chelan, Washington, where scrapbooks find him sitting tall in the saddle atop a bay horse. From September of 1942 to December of 1945, he served in the US Navy as an Electronic Technicians Mate on the Destroyer USS Anderson (DD411). His service included both the South Pacific and Aleutian campaigns. Returning to civilian life, he reunited in 1946 with a lovely woman he had first been introduced to in his younger years. On Feb 26, 1949 he was married in St. Nicholas Church in Weatherly, Pennsylvania to Mary Paulmeno, a union that would thrive for the next 66 years. As they raised their family of four children, he worked for 36 years at Western Electric, which later became known as Lucent. His yearly family vacations were spent in the place that he most dearly loved, a cabin in the Honey Hole Valley near the Nescopeck Creek. He was a man of many interests, who believed in doing all things in moderation and loved to try things even if he wasn't good at them. He had his Amateur Ham radio operator's license and a Commercial Pilots license. He logged many hours flying a J3 piper cub with the AirCon flying club. He was a founding father of "Pine Knot Hill Conservation Club." An avid outdoorsman, he cut timber in Colorado with his youngest son, hunted pheasants with English setter birddogs Molly and Champie, was an avid archery hunter, and hunted moose in Alaskan mountains on horseback until he was 83 years old. Once, while hunting in his eighties, his saddle slipped completely underneath the horse he was riding, and luckily that horse was as calm as he was. He slowly untangled his legs and found his footing in the moss, chuckled, and said in his quiet voice, "I just wanted to give you a little lesson in how not to get off a horse." His backyard was a kingdom for his family as generations moved through it. He loved small children and taught them to play Slap the Jack. He would set up a badmitton net and grandchildren would play until it was dark and they were swatting at lightning bugs. He made wine and birch beer in his basement and kept a beautiful apple tree, and some of his favorite sweets were the delicious pies that his wife made from these apples. He grew a beautiful garden and read many books. He lived vicariously through the lives and adventures of his children, reminding people that "if you want to do something, do it while you are young." After retirement, he traveled extensively with his wife around the states as well as to Mexico, Canada and Europe. It would be hard to find a man more loyal, steadfast, quietly committed and dependable as Richard, fondly known to his grandchildren as "Pop." He represented an era that only existed in black and white, and he carried these values into the age of technicolor. He touched many lives, and the world is a better place because of him. He won't ever be forgotten, and his kindness lives on in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was an exceptionally gentle example of a well-lived life. He is survived by his wife, Mary. Children and children-in-law: Richard A. Corazza and wife Sonja, Jon Corazza and wife Lillian, Jane Westlind and husband Doug, and Jeff Corazza. He leaves behind grandchildren and their spouses that treasured him: Tony Corazza and wife Kari, Megan Spurkland and husband Jan, Richard S. Corazza, Emma Westlind and Joseph Westlind. His great-grandchildren will carry his love of adventure forward: Sophie Corazza, Josette Corazza, Genevieve Corazza, Jesse Corazza, Colton Corazza, Mason Maheras and Fischer Spurkland. Sister, Amy Taylor of Aiken, South Carolina. Many nieces and nephews. Services: A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 7 at ODonnell Funeral Home at 908 Hanover Avenue. Viewing from 8:30 - 9:40. Mass at 10 a.m. at Our Lady Help of Christians church