Peter DeLuca

Peter DeLuca, 97, passed away peacefully on June 21, 2016 in Bucks County, PA surrounded by his loving family. Born to Francesco and Louisa DeLuca in Bristol, PA, Peter was the oldest son of five children. He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Philomena, Elizabeth (Johnson), and brother Louis. Peter attended Bristol High School where he was an outstanding three-sport varsity athlete and team captain for the football, basketball, and baseball teams. Upon graduation in 1938, he went on to work for the Rohm and Haas Company before joining the Army in 1943, fighting in World War II as a member of the Army-Air Force 9th Infantry. Following his service to his country, Peter returned home to Bristol where he opened Gilardi’s Men’s Store on Mill Street. After 27 successful years in the clothing business, Peter continued his retail career as a member of Macy’s until his retirement. Peter was a life-long athlete, and avid Philadelphia sports fan. He loved the Phillies and the Eagles and listened to, watched, or attended nearly every game each season. Peter also loved the game of golf. He played on a weekly basis up until his mid-90s and was a member of Yardley Country Club for over 60 years, where he shot three holes-in-one throughout his career, and competed for Club Championships in his younger days. When Peter was not playing golf in his spare time, he was usually watching it on TV. He also attended four US Open Championships, including the 2013 US Open at Merion Country Club. As a devout Catholic, Peter was a lifetime member of St. Ann Catholic Church in Bristol, and a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus. Peter was truly a loving and caring person, and there was nothing more important to him than spending time with his family. He is survived by Marie (Gilardi), the love of his life and wife of 73 years; his daughters: Patricia Lombardi, Kathleen Halladay (William), Anita Pitonyak (Frank), and his son, Peter F. (Tamara). Pop Pop will be sadly missed by all of his grandchildren: Jennifer Eshelman (Matthew), Megan Bevan (Andrew), Francis Pitonyak, Daniel Pitonyak (Liana), Peter J. and Isabella; his two great-grand daughters, Julia and Madalyn Eshelman; his brother Chester (Marge) and his furry friends, Torie and Cozmo. A celebration of Peter’s life will be held at St. Ann Church 357 Dorrance St, Bristol, PA from 8AM to 9:15AM, on Friday, July 1, with Mass at 9:30AM followed by a full Military burial at Washington Crossing National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to Paralyzed Veterans (website: pva.org), 801 Eighteenth Street NW Washington DC 20006-3517 in his honor would be sincerely appreciated. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Peter DeLuca, please visit our flower store.