John V. Prete

John V. Prete

  HORNELL-John V. Prete, 93, of 1705 County Route 109 (Turnpike Road) passed away unexpectedly late Friday afternoon (Sept. 30, 2022) at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Born in Hornell on May 29, 1929, he was a son of the late Rosario and Philomena (Scaglione) Prete. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by one brother, Joseph M. Prete; his sister-in-law, Patricia B. Prete and niece, Laura A. Prete.

A lifelong resident of Hornell, John was a graduate of Hornell High School class of 1947. During his high school years, he was employed part-time by the former Erie Railroad, Things Shoe Store and Jacob Bros. Shoe Store in Hornell. After attending St. Bonaventure University in Olean, NY he was employed by Westinghouse in Bath before attending the University of Illinois.

John proudly served his country during the Korean Conflict with the U.S. Air Force from 1950 to his honorable discharge in 1954. While in the military he majored in Surgical Technology at Brooke Medical School at Fort Sam Houston, TX. and received the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

In 1956 he began his 39 year career with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) in Hornell and retired in 1995 as a Senior Right of Way Agent in the Real Estate Division.

John was an active member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a devout communicant of St. Ann’s Church in Hornell, where he also served as an usher. Throughout the years he served as a principal and instructor for the CCD Religious Education Program and attended the Perpetual Adoration Chapel.

An avid golfer, he was a member of Twin Hickory Golf Course in Hornell and was a life member of the Arthur H. Cunningham American Legion Post No. 440 in Hornell, a Fourth Degree member of Hornell Council No. 243, Knights of Columbus and a member of the Carducci Lodge Sons of Italy in Hornell.

John was an airplane enthusiast and trained to become a pilot; he was also a die-hard fan of the Buffalo Bills and the NY Mets. He will be remembered most of all for the love of his family, his family was his whole life and he especially enjoyed attending his children and grandchildren’s activities.

He is lovingly survived by his wife of 63 years, Patricia (Stisser) Prete who he married at Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville, NY on July 4, 1959; six children, Jean Prete of Hornell, Christine (Dave) Prete-Freeland of Vestal, NY, Karen (Jim) Carney of Hornell, Jon Prete (Andrew McSherry) of Edinburgh, Scotland, Deborah (Kevin) Smith of Hornell and David (Jodi) Prete of Canisteo, NY; 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Francis (Cecilia) Prete of San Francisco, CA and George Prete of Arkport, NY; two brothers-in-law, Gerry Stisser of Wellsville, NY and Lee (Christine) Stisser of Florida; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Calling hours are 4-7 p.m. Friday (Oct. 7, 2022) at the Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home, 285 Main St., Hornell, where the United States flag and the Air Force flag will proudly fly in recognition of John’s military service.  Relatives and friends are invited to join his family at St. Ann’s Church, 31 Erie Ave., Hornell where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 8, 2022). Committal prayers, with military honors, will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont.

In lieu of Flowers, those wishing may contribute to either, St. Ann’s Church of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 27 Erie Ave., Hornell, NY 14843, CareFirst Hospice, 3805 Meads Creek Road, Painted Post, NY 14870 or to Hornell Special Olympics, in care of Amber Kossow, 120 Red Raider Road, Hornell, NY 14843. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.

The Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home is honored to assist John’s family with the arrangement.

Online condolences or remembrances of John are welcome in the comment section below or on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home.