James Angelo Acerni
James Angelo Acerni, of South Buffalo Township, went to be with the Lord on Thursday.
He was born June 1, 1928, in Armstrong County, to Angelo and Marianne (Bartony) Acerni.
He was raised on the banks of the Allegheny River during the latter years of the Great Depression. He was part of the generation who understood pressing through hardships with strength, courage and faith.
He was raised by immigrant parents who taught him to love and respect a country that would provide opportunities if only he would work hard. And work hard he did, entering the coal mines at a young age to help support his family, first as a miner, then a mechanic, and spent several years as a union organizer for the United Mine Workers of America in an effort to improve working conditions in the mines.
He met Shirley Claypool and they married in 1947. Together, they raised three children, built a house and had many adventures together until Shirley's death in 2011.
Jim was an avid reader and learner. Most of his education came through novels, text books and manuals. He had a mind that understood the mechanics of how things worked and could build and fix most anything.
He loved to garden, golf, fish and hunt, and had a strong opinion about most things, including politics and religion.
Jim is survived by his children, Mark and Jean Acerni, Vicky (Acerni) Hudeck and Angela (Acerni) Adams; his grandchildren, Matthew (Rachel) Paroll, Jeff Paroll, Aleigh Acerni (Ian) Coyne, Vicky Acerni (Jesse) Tomalewski, Cara Jonczak, Seth Jonczak and Christian Jonczak; his great-grandchildren, Owen Paroll and Claudia Coyne; a sister-in-law, Madeline Gillam; and several nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Mayme (Acerni) Hudeck and Angela (Acerni) Adams; two brothers, William Acerni and Albert Acerni; his brothers-in-law, H. Byron Claypool, Austin E. Gillam, Steven Hudeck and Benjamin Adams; his sisters-in-law, Geraldine Acerni and Wanda Claypool; a nephew, Gregory Adams, Saxonburg police chief killed in the line of duty; and his wife of 64 years, Shirley E. Claypool Acerni.
ACERNI — Per his request, funeral arrangements will be private for James Angelo Acerni, who died Thursday, July 5, 2018.Arrangements were entrusted to Mantini Funeral Home in Ford City.Contributions can be made in his honor to the VNA Hospice, 115 Technology Drive, Butler, PA 16001.
