Vitale G. Pascarella

Sadly, but joyfully, Vitale “Vic” G. Pascarella, 96, officially passed through the veil into eternal life Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, at just one minute past 4:44 p.m.! The number "444" had a fun significance for the Pascarella family for decades. Shortly after obtaining our first digital clock radio in the late ‘60s, while sitting down at the dinner table, one of the children upon looking at the clock shouted out, "4:44"! Then our Mother said, "Hey, that was my old badge number at PPG!" Needless to say, it became a daily ritual which has continued to present day as we see that special number pop up twice a day!

  Vic Pascarella was born at Magee Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh March 24, 1927, to Anthony D. and Caroline Mamic Pascarella. He lived during his childhood years, with great memories, in South Oakland. He initially attended Schenley High School before transferring to Peabody High School after the family moved to the Garfield/Stanton Heights area of Pittsburgh, where he had many more great memories and friendships. At age 17, Vic left school in 1944 to join the Navy. After Basic Training in Sampson, N.Y., and Gunner's Mate School in Bainbridge, Md., he cruised the Pacific Ocean on the tank landing ship "U.S.S. LST 1020." The ship traveled from Seattle to Hawaii and China, eventually ending up in Port Hueneme in California, where it was decommissioned. As World War II came to a close and upon his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1946, Vic returned to complete his education at Westinghouse High School. Thereafter, he began his working career.

  His job with one of the companies that he worked for in the late 1940s involved installing TV antennas on houses in Pittsburgh, even though there were very few broadcast stations and very limited programming! Hard to imagine given the 24-7-365 programming on hundreds of channels and streaming services that are available to us today!

  After meeting and courting the love of his life, Helen Durket, of Springdale, they married on May 10, 1952. Springdale was his new home as Vic and Helen raised their four children. Vic and his family were parishioners at the former St. Alphonsus Church in Springdale.

  Initially working at Pittsburgh Plate Glass in Creighton for a period of time in the late ‘50s, he then began 30-plus years of service with Duquesne Light Co., beginning with the Shippingport Atomic Power Station. After several years at Shippingport, he then worked at Colfax Power Plant in Springdale until it was shutdown in the early ‘70s. From that point on, until his retirement in 1990, he worked as an "instrumentation and controls technician" at the newly constructed Cheswick Generating Station. In early 2022, as part of the plan to shutdown coal-fired power plants in the U.S., the Cheswick Generating Station was closed. Vic watched from his picture window as the dismantling of his former workplace, which provided a comfortable life for him and his family, began. It was with some sadness that he watched the implosion of the two very tall smokestacks this past June, forever changing the skyline of the area!

  Vic enjoyed his working career and the many friendships that were established, but retirement brought new joy as he now had time to pick up the game of golf and explore other interests. He played many rounds of golf in the ensuing years with family members, neighbors and former co-workers. The guys played at many of the courses in the area, but mostly at Woodlawn, Buffalo and Oak Lake. In 2002, after receiving his first laptop PC, the World was now at his fingertips as his explorations for information, and communication via email brought much enjoyment. Additionally, he enjoyed listening to opera, birdwatching, gardening and tinkering in his workshop.

  In 2005, Vic's son, Michael, who had Down's Syndrome, took a turn for the worse and he and our Mother, until her passing in 2008, lovingly and compassionately cared for him on a daily basis for all of his needs! Michael passed away on Easter Sunday in 2009. Vic and Helen's oldest child, Carol (Mike) Creghan, passed away in 2007 due to pancreatic cancer. Their surviving children are Victor (Mary Phoenik) Pascarella and Theresa (Rune) Nordhagen; also survived by grandchildren, Brian (Sarah) Creghan, Colleen Creghan, Mia Nordhagen, Lars Nordhagen; and a newly born great-grandson.

  After Michael's passing in 2009, Vic and his surviving son, Victor, in order to add variety to the days began to take occasional "road trips." Ohiopyle and the Laurel Highlands, Presque Isle State Park, Pymatuning, Geneva-on-the-Lake, and Penn State (to stock up on Creamery Ice Cream) were some of the frequent destinations, in addition to many others! They might've stopped to have some pizza, as well, on more than one occasion! He also enjoyed monthly lunch gatherings at North Park Lounge in McCandless with former Duquesne Light co-workers! As a child, Vic's family vacationed, as did many Pittsburghers, in the Billow Beach area of Ashtabula County in Ohio. So, it was his pleasure to revisit those experiences by taking an annual week-long vacation in Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio, from 2009-14. In 2010, a month-long driving tour across the country, initially to celebrate daughter Terry's 50th birthday, and visits with family in California, and touring numerous National Parks made for an unforgettable, fun-filled experience!

  Vic had a serious look about his countenance, but he had a twinkle in his eye and a smile that could light up a room! He had a great sense of humor, loved to laugh, and always enjoyed sending and receiving jokes! He enjoyed watching Western-themed TV shows and movies, Blue Bloods, M.A.S.H. and The Andy Griffith Show to name a few. He had great patience and was generous to a fault with his time and money! He loved, was loved, and will be sorely missed! We love you Dad! Rest in Peace!

  In addition to his parents, Vic was predeceased by his brother, George (at age 9); brother, Anthony (wife, Pat) Pascarella; sister, Rosemary (Frank) Rizzo; and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

  The family would like to thank Sharon Kaczor Stobert, Jenn Maples, and the staffs at St. Margaret's Hospital and Concordia at Rebecca Residence for their friendly, kind, and compassionate care!

  Funeral arrangements entrusted to THE CHARLES B. JARVIE FUNERAL HOMES INC. Per Mr. Pascarella's request, there will be no public visitation. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday Jan. 30, 2024, in Deer Creek Cemetery with military honors and Father Paul Zywan officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest that you send a donation in Vic's name to Springdale Free Public Library (springdalepubliclibrary.org), or your favorite charity. www.jarviefuneralhome.com

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