Leo Joseph Cherico, Jr., age 98, of New Bethlehem died Thursday morning July 21, 2016 at the Clarion Hospital following a brief illness.

     Born October 4, 1917 in New Bethlehem, he was a son of the late Leonard Joe Cherico and Providenza Bondi Cherico. He was a 1937 graduate of the New Bethlehem High School.

     Leo married the former Mafalda “Marie” Santini at the Immaculate Conception Church in Clarion on July 17, 1947.

     He was a clerk at the family grocery store, Cherico's Market, in New Bethlehem and was a bartender and co-owner of the Commercial Hotel in New Bethlehem for 29 years.

     Leo also did maintenance work at Broadwood Towers in New Bethlehem, retiring in 1984.

    He loved Marie’s cooking and watching baseball and football. Leo enjoyed socializing with his customers at the bar and traveling with his wife.

    Survivors include his wife, Marie and their two children:  Nicoletta McAninch and her husband, Gary, of New Bethlehem and Leonard Cherico and his wife, Nancy, of Cook Forest.

    Leo is also survived by three grandchildren:   Maria Gray and husband, Steven, of Pearland, Texas; Regina Nicholson and husband, Mark, of Piscataway, New Jersey and Nicolas Cherico of St. Marys; three great grandchildren:  Jenna and William Gray and Edward Nicholson.

     In addition to his parents, Leo was preceded in death by four brothers:  Frank, Joe, Andrew and William and six sisters:  Josephine, Jenny, Nora, Mary, Ann and Rose.

    Family and friends will be received from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, July 24, 2016 and 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday, July 25, 2016 at the Rupert Funeral Home and Cremation Service chapel, 233 Penn Street, New Bethlehem.

    A vigil service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.

    A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at the St. Charles Catholic Church, 201 Washington Street, New Bethlehem.  Father Samuel Bungo will serve as celebrant.

     Interment will follow in the St. Charles Catholic Cemetery in New Bethlehem.

     Memorial contributions may be given in the name of Leo Joseph Cherico, Jr. to the St. Charles Catholic Church, 201 Washington Street, New Bethlehem, PA  16242

     Online condolences may be sent to Leo’s family at www.rupertfuneralhomes.com

 Service Information