Leo Joseph Barreca, 93, with his daughter at his side, lost his battle with the demons of vascular dementia, and most recently, leukemia.

He was born April 2, 1929, the second son to Joseph Leo Barreca and Antoinette Chila Barreca. He was a 1947 graduate of Girard High School. After graduation he worked alongside his father at the family-owned grocery store / meat market, first on Liberty St., then moving to the exact spot where the old Sparkle Market building stands today. After his father passed away, his life took a different direction.

By this time, he had married the “love of his life,” Angie Sherock Barreca, on Oct. 14, 1950, at St. Rose Church in Girard.

For a short time he worked at Commercial Shearing and then moved onto work for the Ohio Chair Co., where his involvement as a union man began, serving as recording secretary for the union local. Being a butcher by trade and family lineage, when Ohio Chair closed, he went to work for Sparkle Markets, becoming a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. He retired in 1995 after injuring his back (he went to pick up a case of meat and couldn’t get back up).

Leo was a lifelong member of St. Rose Church. There he gave selflessly of his time being an altar server at funeral Masses, and every Thursday without fail, he went to help Frank B. with whatever work needed to be done. When the church began a 14-year run of the St. Rose Festival, you could find him on the grounds helping with setup. When the festival opened, you could find him manning the beer tent with Harry. (“Thanks, Dad. Your presence made my life and Linda’s much easier.”)

Leo was a member of the Sons of Italy, the IFH (Italian Fraternal Home) and the Knights of Columbus #2935. He played bocce summer / winter at the IFH, where he was a member of “The Ballbusters,” never missing the “feast” or the opportunity to grab his “last bologna sangwich” this past July. Leo was both a 3rd and 4th Degree Knight. During summer and spring you could find him at the Mahoning Country Club cooking for the golfers, then during Lent, he grabbed his apron and was off to fry fish during the Annual Fish Fry. In 2015, the GYAC named him “Man of the Year” and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“When dad was younger he enjoyed hunting and fishing, never missing the opportunity to see his beloved Joe DiMaggio and the New York Yankees play the Indians. Although he was a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, his passion was for the Indianapolis 500, so much so that for 30 years, 1962 to 1992, he never missed a race (except that one time in 1963 when mom made him stay home because she was due anytime with my little sis, Car – the one and only year his favorite driver, Parnelli Jones, won the race.) I will always remember the smell of peppers and eggs as mom filled a cooler full of sandwiches for the trip, or the wafting smell of fried chicken coming next door as Aunt Phyllis did the same. Once packed full, Dad, Uncle Pete (Gelsomino), Uncle Mike (Ianucci) and Uncle Bill (Nastasi) were off to the races. Eventually Eric and Car joined in on the fun.”

Leo was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Joe; his wife, Angie; his sister, Carmel Barreca Welch; his “adopted son,” Eric Gelsomino; and three weeks later, his “little baby girl,” Carla.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his daughter, Kathleen, with whom he resided; his nephew, Leo of Akron; and two godsons, John Pugliese of Texas and Greg Costantino of McDonald. He also leaves his adopted grandkids, Eric and Gina Gelsomino; and his grandfurkids, Ittybittykitty and Smudge.

“I would like to thank Father Korda for his prayers and comfort during this difficult time, and Father Jordan from St. Rose who also reached out. Thank you Dr. Enyeart and his staff and Dr. Charles Wilkins and his crew. A very special thank you to Jackie from Comfort Keepers (Daddy loved you so much), who took care of him like he was her own. Lastly, my heartfelt gratitude and thankfulness to Hospice of the Valley. I couldn’t have done this without you. Thank you Dr. Eddy, Banielle (his second love), Robin, Meghan, Lenore and Tami. You carried me through many sleepless nights. God Bless.”

Funeral services will be held 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, at Blackstone Funeral Home, where the family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 7 p.m.

Leo will be laid to rest next to his wife and daughter in Calvary Cemetery.

Monetary donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Angels for Animals or to the family, to help defray costs.

“I Love You Daddy”

Visit www.blackstonefuneralhome.com to view this obituary and to send any expressions of sympathy to the family.

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(special notice)

Leo J. Barreca 1929-2022

GIRARD — “In the wee hours of Saturday morning, Sept. 3, 2022, my daddy’s angel wings were ready and he took flight to his heavenly home.”

Leo Joseph Barreca, 93, with his daughter at his side, lost his battle with the demons of vascular dementia, and most recently, leukemia.

“Dad was born April 2, 1929, the second son to Joseph Leo Barreca and Antoinette Chila Barreca. He was a 1947 graduate of Girard High School. After graduation, he worked alongside his father at the family-owned grocery store / meat market, first on Liberty Street, then moving to the exact spot where the old Sparkle Market building stands today. After my grandfather passed away, his life took a different direction.”

By this time, he had married the “love of his life,” Angie Sherock Barreca, on Oct. 14, 1950, at St. Rose Church in Girard.

For a short time, he worked at Commercial Shearing, then moved onto work for Ohio Chair Co., where his involvement as a union man began, serving as recording secretary for the union local. Being a butcher by trade and family lineage, when Ohio Chair closed, he went to work for Sparkle Markets, becoming a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. He retired in 1995 after injuring his back (he went to pick up a case of meat and couldn’t get back up).

Leo was a lifelong member of St. Rose Church. There he gave selflessly of his time, being an altar server at funeral Masses, and every Thursday without fail, he went to help Frank B. with whatever work needed to be done. When the church began a 14-year run of the St. Rose Festival, you could find him on the grounds helping with setup. When the festival opened, you could find him manning the beer tent with Harry. (“Thanks, Dad. Your presence made my life and Linda’s much easier.”)

Leo was a member of the Sons of Italy, the IFH (Italian Fraternal Home) and the Knights of Columbus No. 2935. He played bocce summer / winter at the IFH, where he was a member of The Ballbusters, never missing the “feast” or the opportunity to grab his “last bologna sangwich” this past July.

Leo was both a 3rd and 4th Degree Knight. During summer and spring, you could find him at the Mahoning Country Club cooking for the golfers, then during Lent, he grabbed his apron and was off to fry fish during the Annual Fish Fry. In 2015, the GYAC named him Man of the Year and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“When he was younger, he enjoyed hunting and fishing, never missing the opportunity to see his beloved Joe DiMaggio and the New York Yankees play the Indians. Although he was a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, his passion was for the Indianapolis 500, so much so that for 30 years, 1962 to 1992, he never missed a race (except that one time in 1963, when Mom made him stay home because she was due anytime with my little sis, Car. The one and only year his favorite driver, Parnelli Jones, won the race.) I will always remember the smell of peppers and eggs as mom filled a cooler full of sandwiches for the trip, or the wafting smell of fried chicken coming next door as Aunt Phyllis did the same. Once packed full, Dad, Uncle Pete (Gelsomino), Uncle Mike (Ianucci) and Uncle Bill (Nastasi) were off to the races. Eventually, Eric and Car joined in on the fun.”

Leo was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Joe; his wife, Angie; his sister, Carmel Barreca Welch; his “adopted son,” Eric Gelsomino; and three weeks later, his “little baby girl,” Carla.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his daughter, Kathleen, with whom he resided; his nephew, Leo of Akron; and two godsons, John Pugliese of Texas and Greg Costantino of McDonald. He also leaves his grandfurkids, Ittybittykitty and Smudge.

“I would like to thank Father Korda for his prayers and comfort during this difficult time, and Father Jordan from St. Rose, who also reached out. Thank you Dr. Enyeart and his staff and Dr. Charles Wilkins and his crew. A very special thank you to Jackie from Comfort Keepers (Daddy loved you so much), who took care of him like he was her own. Lastly, my heartfelt gratitude and thankfulness to Hospice of the Valley. I couldn’t have done this without you. Thank you Dr. Eddy, Banielle (his second love), Robin, Meghan, Lenore and Tami. You carried me through many sleepless nights. God bless.”

Funeral services will be held 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, at Blackstone Funeral Home, where the family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 7 p.m.

Leo will be laid to rest next to his wife and daughter in Calvary Cemetery.

Monetary donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Angels for Animals or to the family, to help defray costs.

“I Love You Daddy”

Visit www.blackstonefuneralhome.com to view this obituary and to send any expressions of sympathy to the family.

(special notice)

Leo J. Barreca 1929-2022

GIRARD — “In the wee hours of Saturday morning, Sept. 3, 2022, my daddy’s angel wings were ready and he took flight to his heavenly home.”

Leo Joseph Barreca, 93, with his daughter at his side, lost his battle with the demons of vascular dementia and most recently, leukemia.

He was born April 2, 1929, the second son to Joseph Leo Barreca and Antoinette Chila Barreca. He was a 1947 graduate of Girard High School. After graduation, he worked alongside his father at the family-owned grocery store / meat market, first on Liberty Street, then moving to the exact spot where the old Sparkle Market building stands today. After his father passed away, his life took a different direction.

By this time he had married the “love of his life,” Angie Sherock Barreca, on Oct. 14, 1950, at St. Rose Church in Girard. For a short time he worked at Commercial Shearing, and then moved onto work for Ohio Chair Co., where his involvement as a union man began, serving as recording secretary for the Union Local. Being a butcher by trade and family lineage, when Ohio Chair closed, he went to work for Sparkle Markets, becoming a member of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. He retired in 1995 after injuring his back (he went to pick up a case of meat and couldn’t get back up).

Leo was a lifelong member of St. Rose Church. There he gave selflessly of his time, being an altar server at funeral Masses, and every Thursday without fail, he went to help Frank B. with whatever work needed to be done. When the church began a 14-year run of the St. Rose Festival, you could find him on the grounds helping with setup. When the festival opened, you could find him manning the beer tent with Harry. (“Thanks, Dad. Your presence made my life and Linda’s much easier.”)

Leo was a member of the Sons of Italy, the IFH (Italian Fraternal Home) and the Knights of Columbus No. 2935. He played bocce summer / winter at the IFH, where he was a member of “The Ballbusters,” never missing the “feast” or the opportunity to grab his “last bologna sandwich” this past July. Leo was both a 3rd and 4th Degree Knight. During Summer and Spring, you could find him at the Mahoning Country Club cooking for the golfers, then during Lent he grabbed his apron and was off to fry fish during the Annual Fish Fry. In 2015, the GYAC named him “Man of the Year” and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“When he was younger, he enjoyed hunting and fishing, never missing the opportunity to see his beloved Joe DiMaggio and the New York Yankees play the Indians. Although he was a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, his passion was for the Indianapolis 500, so much so that for 30 years, 1962 to 1992, he never missed a race (except that one time in 1963, when mom made him stay home because she was due anytime with my little sis, Car. The one and only year his favorite driver Parnelli Jones won the race.) I will always remember the smell of peppers and eggs as mom filled a cooler full of sandwiches for the trip, or the wafting smell of fried chicken coming next door as Aunt Phyllis did the same. Once packed full, dad, Uncle Pete (Gelsomino), Uncle Mike (Ianucci) and Uncle Bill (Nastasi) were off to the races. Eventually Eric and Car joined in on the fun.”

Leo was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Joe; his wife, Angie; his sister, Carmel Barreca Welch; his “adopted son,” Eric Gelsomino; and three weeks later, his “little baby girl,” Carla.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his daughter, Kathleen, with whom he resided; his nephew, Leo of Akron; and two godsons, John Pugliese of Texas and Greg Costantino of McDonald. He also leaves his grandfur kids, Ittybittykitty and Smudge.

“I would like to thank Father Korda for his prayers and comfort during this difficult time, and Father Jordan from St. Rose, who also reached out. Thank you Dr. Enyeart and his staff and Dr. Charles Wilkins and his crew. A very special thank you to Jackie from Comfort Keepers (Daddy loved you so much), who took care of him like he was her own. Lastly, my heartfelt gratitude and thankfulness to Hospice of the Valley. I couldn’t have done this without you. Thank you Dr. Eddy, Banielle( his second love), Robin, Meghan, Lenore and Tami. You carried me through many sleepless nights. God Bless.”

Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, at Blackstone Funeral Home, where the family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Leo will be laid to rest next to his wife and daughter in Calvary Cemetery.

Monetary donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Angels for Animals, or to the family, to help defray costs.

“I Love You Daddy”

Visit www.blackstonefuneralhome.com to view this obituary and to send any expressions of sympathy to the family.

(special notice)