John Filicko Jr
Age - 98
December 8, 2023
John J. Filicko, Jr. On Sunday, December 3, 2023, John Filicko, beloved father, brother and grandfather, passed away at Riddle Hospital. He resided at Maris Grove for the last 13 years, and prior to that lived for 43 years in the Rose Tree section of Upper Providence. John was born on November 27, 1925 in Wilkes-Barre, PA to Elizabeth (Ella, nee Ligda) and John J. Filicko, Sr. He joins his late wife, Anne (Nancy, nee McGuckin), as well as his parents and older sisters Mary, Rita and Anna in eternal rest. Known to friends and family as John, Jay, Uncle John, Uncle Jay, Dad and Grandpop, he was loved by many. He grew up surrounded by older sisters Mary (Troy), Rita (Kopec), and Anna (Cocciardi), and his baby sister Dolores. The Filicko family was part of the Slovak community in Wilkes-Barre, where John and his sisters attended Sacred Heart parish school. John graduated from Coughlin High School in 1943. John remained close to his Slovak community and roots through Jednota, the First Catholic Slovak Union for many decades after leaving Wilkes-Barre. John was a World War 2 veteran, having served in the Armed Services (Air Force) from September 1945 until February 1947. After returning from service, John pursued his bachelors degree in aeronautical engineering at Catholic University, graduating in 1951. After graduating from Catholic U, John had the option of moving to the west coast or to the Philadelphia area. He chose a job at Piasecki Helicopter Corporation (later Vertol Aircraft, then Boeing Airplane Company-Helicopter division), staying close to his family. John moved his parents from Wilkes-Barre to Springfield PA, where the next generation of Filicko children and cousins have fond memories of visiting their Grandma's house over the years. It was a warm and welcoming home, filled with homemade cookies, victrola music and card games. While at Piasecki Aircraft, John met Nancy McGuckin. John and Nancy married in January 1959 at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Lansdowne PA. They began their life together in Lansdowne, where they had five children in 4 years! John sang as a second bass in the St. Charles Borromeo Mens' Choir. In addition to being part of the St. Charles parish community, he enjoyed long friendships through the choir, including a group known as "8 at 8" who continued dinner parties for years after "retiring" from the choir. Family weddings often included John's rendering of a special chanted nuptial blessing. John continued his engineering career in the Reentry Systems division at General Electric in Philadelphia. In the early 1970s, John joined the U. S. Naval Engineering Center in Philadelphia as a Quality Control Engineer. He later moved to the Defense Contracts Administration where he worked until he retired in 1994. When the children were young, the family moved from Lansdowne to Rose Tree. John and Nancy were active in St. Mary Magdalen Parish, and John took particular joy again in singing in the church choir. John was a member of the American Legion, the American Institute of the Aeronautical and Astronomical Sciences, and the American Society for Quality Control. In 2000, John and his daughter Ellen traveled to Slovakia and John was able to meet cousins in the villages of Janovce and Vysoka. He treasured this reconnection to his extended family and Slovak heritage. After Nancy's passing in 2006, John moved to Maris Grove in 2010 and settled into a comfortable routine with a great view. He enjoyed meeting friends for dinner and his daily walks, but particularly visits from his children and grandchildren. John's grandchildren, Harry, Andrew, Patrick and Kaitlyn were his pride and joy, and he happily shared in their dance recitals, beach trips, scouting events and sacraments. John's home was never without current newspapers, crossword puzzles and word games, and cookies, candy and ice cream. He was fond of a special cocktail recipe and became famous in the family for his order of a "Sweet Rob Roy, up, with rocks on the side". John was an avid Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies fan and in spite of failing vision and hearing, was able to call some good plays while watching recent games. A kind and thoughtful man of faith, John leaves a legacy of honor, intelligence, patience, discipline, humor, service and love for God and his Catholic faith. John is survived by his sister, Sr. Dolores Filicko IHM; his children, Maryanne (Greg) Chestnut, Ellen Filicko, Terry Filicko, Joanne (Bill) Filicko-O'Hara and John J. Filicko, III; and grandchildren Harry Chestnut, Patrick Chestnut, Andrew O'Hara and Kaitlyn O'Hara, and many loving nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins and friends. Please join us to celebrate his life at his Mass of the Resurrection on Wednesday December 13 at 11:00 AM, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 430 Valleybrook Road, Glen Mills, PA. Family and friends may call from 10-11 AM at the church. Interment immediately following Mass will be at Calvary Cemetery, Orange Street, Media, PA. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions in John's memory to the Retired Sisters Fund at (checks can be mailed to IHM Retirement Fund, c/o IHM Center, 2300 North Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509). ___Arrangements: Rigby Harting & Hagan Funeral Homewww. haganfuneralhome. comShow more
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