Jerome J. O'Keefe

Jerome J. O'Keefe, retired Wysox Postmaster, passed away on Monday, Feb. 7, 2011, at Towanda Memorial Hospital.

He was a son of the late Benjamin and Elsie (Gamble) O'Keefe.

Jerome was a graduate of Towanda High School where he was a member of the school football team. He attended East Stroudsburg College and was a graduate of the State Teacher's College at Mansfield.

During World War II, he served with the 8th United States Army Air Force in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, North Africa, Ardennes, and Central Europe. He was awarded the Distinguished Unit Badge and European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with six Bronze Stars.

Before serving in the army, he was employed by the Towanda Daily Review. After graduating from college, he taught at Westfield High School where he also coached baseball. He was then employed for 40 years with the United States Postal Service, first at the Towanda Post Office and then as the Wysox Post Office Postmaster.

Jerome was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, the Holy Name Society, a lifetime member of the Towanda Fire Company and American Legion, and the National Postmasters Society.

Jerome is survived by his loving wife, Erma; his sons, Dr. Jerome F. O'Keefe of Naugatuck, Conn., Michael O'Keefe of Towanda and Thomas O'Keefe and wife, Ann, of Brentwood, N.H.; his daughter, Mary Jo Capuano and husband, Frank, of Harrisburg, Pa.; grandchildren, Shannon Barrett of Manchester, N.H., Patrick O'Keefe of Exeter, N.H., Daniel O'Keefe, of Brentwood, N.H., Maegan and Matthew Capuano of Harrisburg, Pa.; stepgrandchildren, Ryan Eberlin and wife, Kara, of Brentwood, Tenn., and Kevin Eberlin and wife, Julie, stationed in Iraq; great grandchildren, Nyssa Barrett and Mary Katherine Eberlin.

In addition to his parents, Jerome was preceded in death by his brother, Francis O'Keefe, daughter-in-law, Susan O'Keefe, and sister-in-law, Lillian Bednarz.

A mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12 at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Third Street in Towanda. Interment will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, North Towanda Township, Pa. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 106 Third St., Towanda, PA 18848; or St. Agnes School, 102 Third St., Towanda, PA 18848.