Richard J. DeLeo, Sr. 79, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus on Sunday, June 27, 2010 after a long battle with cancer. An area resident since 1960, he was born on 11/7/30 in the Bronx to Ricciotti and Mary Rosa DeLeo. He graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx in 1948 and proudly served our country in the U. S. Army. He was employed as an Advisory Engineer for IBM, East Fishkill for 32 years until his retirement in 1991. He was an avid fan of the New York Yankees and New York Giants.
Richard was a very active member of the Church of the Resurrection where he had many dear friends. He returned to the Roman Catholic Church becoming an active parishioner of St. Columba Church in Hopewell Junction. He faithfully prayed his Rosary daily. For 25 years, he served as a coordinator for the Friends of Jesus Prayer Group and was a secular Franciscan associated with St. Lawrence Friary in Beacon.
On November 30, 1957 at Blessed Sacrament Church in the Bronx, Richard married Shirley Eckhart who survives at home. He was a loving father to his children, Richard John DeLeo and his wife Cheryl of Atlanta, GA, Judith Ann Coffin and her husband Jeffrey of LaGrange, Susan Marie Fraad and her husband Michael of Holmes and Elizabeth Ann Kolor and her husband Daniel of Cranberry Township, PA; his sister Flora D'Ambroso of Cranberry, NJ; and his grandchildren Michael and Christopher DeLeo, Spencer, Katherine, Richard and Hannah Coffin, Mary, Rebecca, Matthew and Grace Schartau and Michael and Daniel Fraad, Kim, Amy, Michael and Katy Kolor. He was predeceased by his siblings, Biagio (Benny), Dimitrius (Moe) and Letizia and several nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10:30 at St. Columba Church, 835 Route 82, Hopewell Junction followed by interment in St. Denis Cemetery with military honors.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Denis-St. Columba School, PO Box 368, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533, St. Aloysius Novitiate, PO Box 98, Hopewell Junction, NY 12533 and Our Lady of Lourdes High School, 131 Boardman Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603.