Obituary of John Joseph Serafin Jr.

 Death Notice 

John J. "Ben" Serafin Jr., 92, lifelong resident of Plains Township, passed peacefully on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, surrounded by his loving family in the Geisinger Community Medical Center, Scranton. 

Born on November 20,1926, in Plains Township, he was a son of the late John Sr. and Julia Lewandoski Serafin. John attended local schools in Plains Township and attended the Plains Memorial High School when he was drafted and joined the United States Marines Corp.

John served his county in the 6th Marine Division and fought in the South Pacific theater where he was wounded in battle. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal.

After his wounds healed and the war ended, John was stationed in China with the peacekeeping force until his discharge in 1946. John was honorably discharged at the rank of Corporal.

John returned home and in 1950 married the love of his life the former Geraldine Pasternak. Together they settled in Plains and started their family with three sons: Larry, David, and John III.

During this time John worked as an ammunition inspector for Chamberlain Army Ammunition Plant, Scranton, for thirty years until his retirement.

John was a co-founding member of the Polish American Veterans (P.A.V), Plains Twp., were he served as past commander, treasurer, and sat on the board of governors. He was also a member of the Miners Mills Marine Corp League until its closure, and a current member of the Plains American Legion, Post 558.

John was an avid sports fan and was a baseball coach in his younger days. He enjoyed group activities with the PAV darts league and bowling league.

As the years continued, John and Geraldine celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary on Nov 25,2000. Shortly after Geraldine passed, on July 5, 2001.

John loved his faith and was a proud member of the Saints Peter and Paul Church, Plains Twp.

John was preceded in death by his parents, wife Geraldine, sister Helen D’Agostino, and brother Robert Serafin Sr.

Surviving are sons Larry and his wife Sandy, Miners-Mills; David and his wife Jane, West Pittston, and John III and his wife Maryellen, West Pittston, six grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

 A special thank you to the Mountain View Nursing Home staff who kindly took care of John, especially the staff in B wing and an extraordinary nurse and Navy veteran David Ramirez for his attention and friendship to our father. Thank you all.

Funeral Services for Mr. Serafin will be held on Monday, May 6, 2019, at 9:30 a.m. in the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc, 55 Stark Street, Plains. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. in Saints Peter and Paul Church, 13 Hudson Road, with Rev. John Lambert, Pastor. Interment with military honors will follow in St. Mary’s Church of the Maternity Cemetery, Wyoming. Friends and family may call at the funeral home on Sunday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Disabled American Veterans, online at https://www.ihelpveterans.org/, or donations will be taken at the funeral home.

For online condolences to the family and for directions to services, please visit www.yanaitisfuneralhome.com.