John Gerard Vitali

John Gerard Vitali, 79, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2020 in the presence of his four daughters and to the songs of one of his favorite musical artists, Phil Collins, after suffering injuries from a fall at home. John is survived by his daughters Karen Van Fleet, Nikki Richardson and husband Jim, Liana, and Laura, his grandchildren James, Kyle, Ryan, Jake, MariKay, Nathan, Mandy, Joel, Mason, and Nico, his great grandchild Liam, his brother Eugene (Evie), and his sisters Anne and Elizabeth.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Gene Vitali, his son Joel, his infant daughter Denise, and his sister Mary Louise.

John graduated from Dunmore High School in 1959 as Class Beau. He continued to graduate from Lackawanna Junior College with a degree in Accounting. A perpetual entrepreneur, John was well known as the owner of The Homestead Kitchen in Justice and The Homestead in Town in Scranton.

John never failed to answer the call of a person in need whether it was a friend, family member, or stranger. As an accountant for over 50 years, John enjoyed long-lived friendships throughout the NEPA region. John's children could tell endless stories about tagging along on appointments with clients as kids and the many ways clients showed their appreciation to him and his help over the years through generous words and sentimental gifts.

One of John's greatest expressions of love was spending quality time with those he cared about deeply. From hours spent talking and laughing over diner breakfasts to delicious holiday meals spent with family, John cherished the time he spent with his closest friends and loved ones. It is well known that John particularly relished time spent with his grandchildren from rowdy road trip adventures with "the boys" to quiet moments holding his youngest grandchildren as infants. If he wasn't talking with clients or cracking jokes with his family, John could assuredly be found on the golf course on any fair-weather day.

Never one to pass on a good deal, John greatly enjoyed perusing and collecting antique items to sell at his recently opened shop, Chinchilla Collectibles, in Chinchilla, PA. A lover of animals, he rescued many cats and dogs throughout his life and donated regularly to The Humane Society.

A few paragraphs in an obituary can't possibly encompass the life of a man as well-known and loved as John. He occupied a larger-than-life place in many, many hearts.

A memorial service will be held at LCBC Church, 607 North Abington Road, Clarks Summit on Saturday, August 7th at 2 p.m. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family. Friends may call from 1 p.m. until time of the service.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., 418 S. State St., Clarks Summit.