Mount Carmel - Carmen E. DeFrancesco Sr., 90, passed away Sunday, January 21, 2018 at the home of his son, Carmen E. DeFrancesco Jr. in Sunbury, PA. He was born in Atlas, PA, November 30, 1927, a son of the late Antonio DiFrancesco and Domenica (Rossi) DiFrancesco. He was a lifelong Mount Carmel resident. He played football and basketball for and graduated from Mount Carmel Township High School in 1946. He served in the U.S. Army as a Technician Fifth Grade Corporal in Korea during World War II from 1946 to 1948. He earned the World War II Victory Medal and Army of Occupation Medal, Japan. On June 19, 1948 in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, he married the former Florence Barbara Kramer, deceased.

He was an incredible husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who was the center of the family and relied upon for advice and help in every situation. He could fix anything and figure out how to build or create solutions on a napkin.  He was a very prominent self employed businessman in the automotive industry owning Smitty's Body Works located in Mount Carmel and also two NAPA Auto Parts franchises located in Mount Carmel and Shamokin.  His business career spanned 66 years.

He was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, a Fourth degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus, past president of Mount Carmel Rotary, the Elks, and a former member of the Mount Carmel City Council.

He is survived by two sons, Carmen Jr. and his wife, Virginia of Sunbury, who cared for him in their home; and Dr. Martin and his wife, Carolyn of Greensboro, North Carolina, and a daughter, Barbara Romano, of Pittsburgh; ten grandchildren, Coryn Parker and her husband Jason, Carmen III and his wife Charissa, Cheryl Smearman and her husband Andrew, Maria, Anna, Martin Jr., and Olivia DeFrancesco, Alexandra, Victoria, and Nicholas Romano; seven great-grandchildren, Isabel, Eliza, and Jaxon Parker, Ned, Miles and Penny Smearman, and Carmen DeFrancesco IV; a brother, Antonio DeFrancesco and his wife, Jacqueline; two sisters, Jasmaine Miriello and Elizabeth Cairo and several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters; Louise DiFrancesco, Jacqueline Valenzano and Dora Politza, and a daughter-in-law, Barbara A. DeFrancesco.

FUNERAL NOTICE

Carmen DeFrancco, 90, of Mount Carmel - Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 11:00 am in Our Lady's Church, 47 S. Market Street, Mount Carmel with Father Frank Karwacki, officiating.  Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery, Mount Carmel Township.  Viewing will be held Friday evening from 6:00 - 8:00 and Saturday morning from 10:00 until the time of Mass in Our Lady's Church, 47 South Market Street, Mount Carmel. Arrangements are being cared for by C. J. Lucas Funeral Home, Inc., 27 North Vine Street, Mount Carmel, C. J. Lucas IV, Supervisor.  To send condolences to the family please visit www.cjlucasfuneralhome.com