James J. Tranquill
James J. Tranquill, 83, of Avella, passed away Monday, April 12, 2021, in Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh.
He was born November 4, 1936, in Penowa, a son of the late John Anthony and Margaret Martha Ezarik Tranquill.
Jim was a veteran of the U.S. Navy as a Cryptologic Technician Petty Officer 2nd Class and was honorably discharged in 1958.
He was a 1954 graduate of Avella High School and worked as a purchasing agent for Climax Molybdenum Company of Langeloth for over 25 years.
He was a lifelong member of St. Michael Roman Catholic Church of Avella, where he was a lector and a former member of the parish counsel.
Jim was a member of the Avella Athletics, where he was very involved in coaching football and baseball. He was a lifelong Avella sports fan.
He loved to spend time with his family. He also enjoyed woodworking, watching westerns and was an avid Steelers, Pirates, Penguins and Notre Dame sports fan.
On January 20, 1962, in St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, he married Mary Ann Ihnat, who survives.
Surviving, in addition to his wife of 59 years, are five children, Lisa (Jeff) Hope of Greensburg, Jim Tranquill of Grasonville, Md., Michael (Angela) Tranquill of Rockville, Md., Christina (Tom) Meinert of Cambridge, Ohio, and Michelle (Don) Burkey of Summerhill; 16 grandchildren, Rick, Katherine, Jamie, Paolo, Nino, Fio, Rocco, Matthew, Nicholas, Jack, Rachel, Megan (Nick), DJ, Anna, Ashley and Travis; four great-grandchildren.
Deceased, in addition to his parents, are a son, John Tranquill; and a sister, Margaret Wright.
Friends and family will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 15, in the Jerome A. Stefkovich Funeral Home Inc., 18 Campbell Street, Avella, PA 15312. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 16, in St. Michael Church, 97 Highland Avenue, Avella, with Rev. Harry R. Bielewicz officiating.
Full military rites will be accorded graveside by the Bert C. Siders American Legion Post 643 of Avella. Burial will be in St. Michael Cemetery, Avella.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to ALS Association of Western Pennsylvania.
Condolences may be expressed at www.stefkovichfuneralhome.com.