Joseph J. "Bud" Serafin

1932 - 2021

Joseph J. "Bud" Serafin of Forty Fort died at his home on May 31, 2021 at age 89. He was born on April 9, 1932 to Katherine Kilgaski and Joseph Serafin.

Bud graduated from Plains Memorial High School where he was a drummer in the marching band and later attended business school at Wyoming Seminary. He spent his early career as purchasing director for Craft Associates, a local furniture manufacturer. Bud knew everything there was to know about what kind of chair you were sitting on, often flipping chairs upside down in public places to inspect them. In later years he brokered contracts between many companies and federal and state governments, where he had the opportunity to travel throughout the country and internationally to Canada, Italy and Belgium.

In 1993 he purchased a one-vehicle limousine company and named it AAAA Limousine. The business began with only two employees: Bud and his wife Mary. Two years later he contracted with Canadian Pacific Railroad to transport its employees 24/7 along the East Coast and into Canada. Shortly after, he added a contract with CSX Railroad to the growing business and the fleet expanded to 75 vehicles. Bud's children Mark, Scott and Jodie joined the company, making it a true family enterprise. In 2011, he brokered the deal that resulted in his daughter and son-in-law purchasing the Beer Deli in Forty Fort, where he regularly stopped in for his favorite dishes. He retired at age 84.

An avid Penn State fan, he traveled to many games in Happy Valley and was fortunate to attend national championship games, often with his grandson in tow. The Serafin family, joined by many friends, spent their summers on Long Beach Island, N.J. In 2016 Bud took his dream vacation to Italy with Mary and they took many tropical vacations with their closest friends. Bud loved golfing but often made up his own rules, which elicited raucous laughter from his son, son-in-law and grandson. With this in mind, Bud never lost a game. If we remember one thing about Bud, it is that he was always the life of the party and never failed to make things interesting. No matter what, Bud always woke up on the right side of the bed and found a reason to dance.

Bud is survived and greatly missed by Mary, his wife of 66 years; son Mark (Carol), Wyoming, Pa.; son Scott, Forty Fort, Pa.; daughter Jodie (John, deceased), Shavertown, Pa.; granddaughter Niccole, Washington, D.C.; grandson Justin, Syracuse, N.Y.; brothers Thomas (Molly), Texas and James (Dolores, deceased), Plains, Pa.; and many great friends. He is preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law John.

The family would like to specially thank Dr. Durelle Scott, Dr. John Citti, Dr. Ara Chalain, Dr. Charles Musto and Dr. Kenneth Kent, as well as the Bayada nurses and aides Cheryl, Crystal, Michelle, Tara, Michelle and Charlene who lovingly took care of him.

A memorial will be announced at a later date.

Arrangements entrusted to the Hugh B. Hughes & Son, Inc., Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort. To send the family an online condolence visit hughbhughes.com.