John Vitaliano

John Vitaliano passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the Bloomsburg home of his beloved
daughter, Beth. He and his late wife, Betty, had shared that home with Beth for the past ten years.

Born in Hazleton on October 11, 1934, John was the son of the late Anthony and Mary (Martino) Vitaliano. A
graduate of Hazleton High School, he later pursued his passion for photography in Williamsport, where he
trained as a professional photographer—a career he found deeply fulfilling. 

John also worked at Foster Wheeler Corporation in Mountain Top as a boilermaker and later at Hazleton City Hall as part of the facilities support
team.

John met the love of his life, Elizabeth “Betty” McHugh, in Hazleton. They were married in 1966 at St. Gabriel’s Church and went on to raise their daughter, Elizabeth “Beth” Vitaliano Tesone. Beth was John’s pride and joy, and he never missed a chance to tell her how much he loved her.

A kind and generous man, John was known for his impeccable sense of style and his knack for fixing or
restoring just about anything. He had a mechanical mind and a heart full of compassion, especially for animals.
He loved sharing stories, reminiscing with friends and family, browsing shops, and indulging in his favorite
treat—strawberry ice cream. John was a devoted husband who lived by the motto “Happy wife, happy life,” and
his loyalty and warmth left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.

John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Betty; his brother Frank; his sister Rose and her husband
Robert Simon; his brother Joseph and his wife Eve (Warminski); his sister Theresa and her husband Gilbert
Bachman; his sister Marie and her husband Ernest Mainenti; and his niece Michele Mainenti.

He is survived by his loving daughter, Beth, and her companion Kevin Kennedy; niece Marianne Vitaliano of
Mountain Top; nephew Anthony Vitaliano and his wife Rita of Hazleton; nephew John Simon and his wife Joan
of Fort Myers, FL; niece Carol Giroux and her husband Michael of St. Petersburg, FL; granddaughters Sarah
Beechay and her husband Tom Youngans, and Katie Beechay Eyerly and her husband Stephen; along with
many great-nieces and great-nephews.

John’s warmth, humor, and steadfast love will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing
him—especially his daughter, Beth.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, June 14th at 10:00 AM at Queen of Heaven Parish at
Our Lady of Grace Church, Hazleton. Interment will follow in Parish Cemetery.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the church from 9 AM to 10 AM prior to the mass.

The family requests donations to Geisinger Hospice, 74 School House Rd, Suite 104, Danville, PA, 17821.

These gifts will be used to support hospice volunteer programs as well as support future hospice patients and
their families through the Hospice Promise Foundation.

Arrangements under the direction of the Joseph B. Conahan Funeral Home, Hazleton

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