John Q. Paciotti

December 17, 2009

John Q. Paciotti, of Wilkes-Barre, 89, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009. He was the beloved husband of the late Andrina (Patrizi) Paciotti for 55 years, and a devoted family man. Born in Jessup, he was a son of the late Nazzareno and Maria Paciotti. Preceding him in death were his wife, Andrina; sisters Eleanor Pepe and Ann Carducci; and brothers Albert, Amerigo, Fred and James. John graduated from James M. Coughlin High School. He served honorably in the U.S. Army Airborne, 100th Bombardment Group during World War II as a radio operator and machine-gunner on a B-17. He was shot down on his 16th mission and was captured in Northern Italy. He eventually escaped and spent six months on the run in Italy before being recaptured and imprisoned in Germany. He spent a total of 22 months detained in the two P.O.W. camps and survived the Nazi death march in Germany at the end of the war. John retired from both the Wilkes-Barre Police Department (20 years) and the U.S. Post Office as a mail carrier. He was also a founding member and former commander of the Parsons VFW Post 6227. John was active in many community organizations, including the Parsons Lions Club, Italian American Veterans of Luzerne County Post No. 1, the American Legion Post 132, and served as a board member of the former Parsons YMCA. He was an active member of St. Dominic's Catholic Church and served as a lector prior to becoming ill. Surviving are his children, Noreen Paciotti of Wilkes-Barre, Roseann Paciotti and companion, Darryl Steigerwalt, of Allentown, and John J. Paciotti and wife, Karen, of Wilkes-Barre; as well as his grandchildren, the light of his life, Breah, Kelsey, and Brandon. The funeral will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday from the E. Blake Collins Funeral Home, 159 George Ave., Wilkes-Barre, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Dominic's Church. Interment will be in the Italian Independent Cemetery, West Wyoming. Friends may call Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Monday from 9 to 9:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations, if desired, may be made to the Italian American Veterans of Luzerne County Post No. 1, PO Box 2356, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.eblakecollins.com .