James J. DeLuca

James J. ‘Jim’ DeLuca, loving husband, father and grandfather, is now at peace with the Lord.  Jim, age 79, passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2017.Mr. DeLuca was born on March 9, 1937, in Monaca, PA.  He was a son of the late Frank and Mary (Conti) DeLuca.After graduating from Monaca High School, he accepted an athletic scholarship to Penn State.  He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Penn State University, a Master’s Degree from the University of Pittsburgh and completed an Administrative Certificate from Youngstown State University.He taught and coached in the Monaca school system for 39 years.  His 1963 football team won Monaca’s first MAC Conference championship, breaking Beaver’s three-year winning streak.  Jim was also Athletic Director for 26 years, before retiring in 1998.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Roger; brother, Richard and his wife, Margie; sister, Arlene and her husband, Thomas Centi; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Eddie and Mary Ann Ciani.Surviving are his loving wife, Pauline Restak DeLuca, of fifty-two years; his beautiful daughter, Deborah Lynn and her husband, Houman Motaharian, and his two favorite grandsons, Julien and Adrien, whom he will miss very much.Also surviving are his sister, Lorraine and her husband, William MacFarlane; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Thomas and Margaret Restak; and a last surviving aunt, Rose DeLuca, along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.Jim presently is a member of the Monaca Turners, Beaver Valley Rifle and Pistol Club, St. Frances Cabrini Church, Penn State Nittany Lion Club, Penn State Letterman’s Club, Pennsylvania Association of Retired State Employees, Pennsylvania State Education Association-Retired, National Education Association and Beaver County Teachers Association.Friends will be received Friday from 2 to 5 and 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Simpson Funeral & Cremation Services, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca, where parting prayers will be offered Saturday at 8:45 a.m. followed by a mass of Christian burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 115 Trinity Drive, Center Township.  Rev. Fr. Martin R. Bartel, OSB, will be the celebrant.Entombment will follow in Sylvania Hills Mausoleum.A parish vigil will be held Friday at 5:45 p.m. at the funeral home.Memorial contributions may be made, if desired, to UPCI and UPMC CancerCenter, Gift Processing Department, 200 Lothrop Street, Suite 8084, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2536.A special thank you to Dr. Grace Tarabay-Caridid and the nurses and staff at UPMC Cancer Center Medical Oncology-Beaver for their kind and compassionate care.To share online condolences, get directions and other information, please visit simpsonfuneralhome.com.