John A. Garganta, 81, of Hellertown [Obituary]

John A. Garganta, 81, of Hellertown, died Friday, April 26, 2013 at Gracedale, Upper Nazareth Township. He was born in Bridgeport on Feb. 7, 1932 to the late Antonio and Congetta (Capaldo) Garganta. John served our country faithfully in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He owned and operated the former Garganta's Service Station, Bethlehem. John was a member of Church of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown. John was an avid soccer player and served as referee for soccer games and was inducted in 1996 into the Northampton County and Lehigh Valley Soccer Halls of Fame. As an avid golfer, John achieved the Johnnie Walker International Hole-in-One Award at the former Bethlehem Steel Club on June 11, 1985.

SURVIVORS

Siblings: Marie wife of Richard Facinelli of Bethlehem Township, Sister Francine Garganta, OSF of Bethlehem, Elva Amelio of Hellertown, Congetta Pereira of Hellertown, Albert "Moe" Garganta and his wife Eleanor of Bethlehem, Gloria Jean Garganta of Bethlehem; many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother Tony and sister Patty.

SERVICE

Family and friends are invited to call from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday, May 2, 2013 at the Church of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, 1408 Easton Road, Hellertown. The calling hour will be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. The interment will conclude services at Holy Saviour Cemetery, Bethlehem. Online expressions of sympathy can be recorded at www.heintzelmancares.com. Arrangements are by the Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc., Hellertown.

CONTRIBUTIONS

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the School Sisters of St. Francis, 395 Bridal Path Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017.