First Posted: 1/6/2013
East Joseph Berti, affectionately known as Jibber, 92, a resident of Swoyersville, passed away peacefully on Friday evening, Dec. 28, 2012, at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, following a brief illness.
His beloved wife was the late Tillie G. (Gallagher) Berti, who passed away on Feb. 7, 2009. Together, Joe and Tillie shared 63 years of marriage.
Born on June 3, 1920, in Swoyersville, Joe was a son of the late John and Eugenia (Piere) Berti. He was the last surviving child in his family of 10 children.
A lifelong resident of Swoyersville, Joe received his education at the former Dicksville Grade School, Swoyersville, and the former Swoyersville High School.
A U.S. Army veteran, Joe honorably served his country during World War II. During his time of service, Joe participated in the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France and the Rhineland. He was decorated with the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with three bronze stars, the American Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Upon his honorable discharge on Oct. 19, 1945, Joe had attained the rank of tech sergeant.
Prior to his retirement in 1988, Joe was employed for 11 years by the Tenavision Corp. A plaster man by trade, Joe was also employed by local contractors Stanley Susek and Frank Coslett.
Joe was a faithful Catholic and longtime member of the former Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Swoyersville, where he was a past member of the parish’s Holy Name Society. For many years, Joe was actively involved with the parish’s annual bazaar and was best known for selling the instant bingo tickets.
Following the consolidation of his church in June, Joe became a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Swoyersville.
A proud veteran, Joe was one of the original members of the American Legion, Andrew Lawrence Post 644, Swoyersville. Additionally, he a member of the Italian-American Citizens Club, Wilkes-Barre, and a charter member of the Swoyersville Kiwanis Club. One of his favorite things to do was going to exercise at STAR Fitness in Edwardsville, where had the opportunity to make many new friends.
Joe was a loving and devoted husband, a supportive father, a proud grandfather and a gentle great-grandfather. He will be sadly missed but will always be fondly and lovingly remembered by all his family, friends and acquaintances.
In addition to his parents, John and Eugenia Berti and his wife, Tillie, Joe was preceded in death by his brothers, Norti Berti, Sy (Sud) Berti, Kelly (Columbo) Berti, Toib (Estofio) Berti, Albert Berti and Lindy Berti; his sisters, Americia (Mary) Vasta, Columba (Connie) Tomascik and Elizabeth Shendock.
Joe is survived by his four children, Marie E. Kittle and son-in-law Jim, Dallas, Texas; Deborah Walsh and son-in-law Joe, West Pittston; Corinne Craig and son-in-law Michael, Cedar Hill, Texas; Dale Berti, Plano, Texas; his grandchildren, Joseph Walsh, West Pittston; Kyle Walsh, New York City; Kelly Walsh Pacelli and her husband, Frank, Wyoming; and Matthew Berti, Plano, Texas; his great-grandson, Frank Joseph Pacelli; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
The funeral was conducted on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, from the Wroblewski Funeral Home Inc., 1442 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes St., Swoyersville, with Joe’s dear friend, the Rev. Richard J. Cirba, officiating.
Interment with the Rite of Committal followed in Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Cemetery, Swoyersville, where Military Honors were accorded by the U.S. Army.
To send the family an online message of condolence, you may visit the funeral home website www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com.
Memorial Contributions may be made in Joe’s memory to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes St., Swoyersville, PA 18704