James J. Cerase

James Joseph Cerase, Sr., 84 of Berwick, passed away suddenly on Saturday evening, December 7, 2013 in Allentown, PA. Born August 31, 1929 in Plains, PA., he was the son of the late Alfonso and Irene Genoble Cerase. He was a graduate of the Plains High School Class of 1947. Upon graduation, he worked for his father\'s company: Cerase Fruit & Produce in Plains. He married Connie Poland on January 6, 1951, and their marriage lasted for sixty years until her death on July 12, 2011. He served in the Army during the Korean War from 1951 until 1953, when he was honorably discharged. He then worked for the Consolidated Cigar Company, Royal Swan and Jos. Notariani Produce in Scranton. Then he began a new career as an accomplished car salesman for Hometown Ford in Tamaqua, Jack Kershner Auto Sales, and Brown Chevrolet in Berwick. In 1976 he joined the Ertley Motorworld Group until his retirement in 1995. Jim was a devout Catholic and possessed a strong faith in God. He served as an usher at St. Joseph Church in Berwick for over fifty years. He was a fifty year regular member of the Maria Assunta Society, a 4th Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus, and a member of the Catholic War Veterans. There was nothing he enjoyed more than a good cigar! You never saw him without one! Jim was an avid sports fanatic, especially when it came to Notre Dame football, New York Yankees baseball, Duke basketball, and Green Bay Packers football. However, his heart and soul belonged to Berwick sports. He never missed a practice or a game, whether it be basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball, or his true passion: Berwick football. It didn\'t matter if the game was home or away, he was always there. He was a long time chain gang member for the Berwick football team. Along with his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter: Patricia, brothers: Joseph and Peter, and sisters: Jenny and Mary. He is survived by his son, James, Jr. of Peoria, AZ., daughters: Donna Alley of Berwick and Dawn McHugh and her husband Joseph III of Edwardsville, grandsons: Jacob Alley of Scranton and James Cerase III and his wife, Kristen of Newark, DE., granddaughter: Deedra and great-grandson: Alex, both of Manassas, VA, and \"The Boys\": Farley, Aescy, and Lambeau. Visitation will be 5:00-8:00 PM Thursday, December 12, 2013 at the McMichael-Rairigh & Baker Funeral Home, 119-121 East 3rd Street, Berwick. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 AM Friday, December 13, 2013 at St. Joseph Church, 721 Monroe Street, Berwick. Fr. Dennis Dalessandro will serve as the officiant. Burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made in James\' memory to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 721 Monroe Street, Berwick, PA. 18603 or to the James J. Cerase, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, Berwick Area Senior High School, 1100 Fowler Avenue, Berwick, PA. 18603.