Obituary for John Anthony Craven Jr.
John Anthony Craven, Jr., husband of the late Margaret Anne Craven (nee McGovern) has died three months shy of his 90th birthday, at his home in Southbury, CT. surrounded by family. John was born April 15, 1933, in Flushing, NY. He was the only child to John Anthony Craven, Sr., and Gertrude Joanna Craven (nee Horan). After his mother died during childbirth, John was quickly embraced by his extended family and was raised as a sibling alongside his cousins. John attended the prestigious Lady Cliff Academy and later Brooklyn Preparatory High School.
John enlisted in the US Navy in 1952, earned a National Defense Medal for his work as a Hospital Corpsman with the 3RD Marine Division in Japan during the Korean War.
The family beach bungalow in the Rockaways is where John spent his summers as a youth, and this is where he met a young lady named Margaret (Peg). They soon became sweethearts, writing weekly letters while John served in the Navy. John and Peg were married in 1956, started a family in Bethpage, Long Island and he joined the family business, Craven Photo Engraving. Moving to Newtown, Connecticut in 1968, he remained a film stripper until his retirement from Swan Engraving.
In 1978, John was devastated at the loss of his soulmate, Peg, and raised their 7 young children.
During his retirement he moved to Heritage Village to pursue his interests. He was a member and shop steward in the Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU). His other interests included golfing, volunteering at Danbury Hospital and Meals on Wheels in Newtown. A lifelong, devoted Catholic he was a passionate supporter of St. Rose of Lima Church, in Newtown.
Always the doting grandfather to his 11 grandchildren. He rarely missed a concert, graduation, school play, sporting event, was always good for a push on the swing, game of cards, or trip to Friendly’s.
He is predeceased by his daughter Suzanne Marie Craven and grandson Sean August DeTiberus. He is survived by his other children, John Anthony Craven, III and his wife Tracy; Charles Craven; Margaret DeTiberus; Lew Craven and his wife Vivian; Nancy Smith and her husband Brian; Jenine Craven; grandchildren, Danielle DeTiberus and her husband Ryan; Katie Craven; Kelly Craven; Kristen Craven; Peter Smith; Megan Smith; Jack Craven; Benjamin Craven; Matthew Craven; William Craven; and Nate Craven.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday February 10, 2023 at 10:30am in St. Mary’s Church, 26 Dodgingtown Road, Bethel. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Newtown.
Friends may call at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St., Newtown Thursday February 9, 2023 from 5:00pm to 8pm.
In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to Newtown Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 122, Newtown, CT 06470 or Ridgefield VNA www.rvnahealth.org
John enlisted in the US Navy in 1952, earned a National Defense Medal for his work as a Hospital Corpsman with the 3RD Marine Division in Japan during the Korean War.
The family beach bungalow in the Rockaways is where John spent his summers as a youth, and this is where he met a young lady named Margaret (Peg). They soon became sweethearts, writing weekly letters while John served in the Navy. John and Peg were married in 1956, started a family in Bethpage, Long Island and he joined the family business, Craven Photo Engraving. Moving to Newtown, Connecticut in 1968, he remained a film stripper until his retirement from Swan Engraving.
In 1978, John was devastated at the loss of his soulmate, Peg, and raised their 7 young children.
During his retirement he moved to Heritage Village to pursue his interests. He was a member and shop steward in the Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU). His other interests included golfing, volunteering at Danbury Hospital and Meals on Wheels in Newtown. A lifelong, devoted Catholic he was a passionate supporter of St. Rose of Lima Church, in Newtown.
Always the doting grandfather to his 11 grandchildren. He rarely missed a concert, graduation, school play, sporting event, was always good for a push on the swing, game of cards, or trip to Friendly’s.
He is predeceased by his daughter Suzanne Marie Craven and grandson Sean August DeTiberus. He is survived by his other children, John Anthony Craven, III and his wife Tracy; Charles Craven; Margaret DeTiberus; Lew Craven and his wife Vivian; Nancy Smith and her husband Brian; Jenine Craven; grandchildren, Danielle DeTiberus and her husband Ryan; Katie Craven; Kelly Craven; Kristen Craven; Peter Smith; Megan Smith; Jack Craven; Benjamin Craven; Matthew Craven; William Craven; and Nate Craven.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday February 10, 2023 at 10:30am in St. Mary’s Church, 26 Dodgingtown Road, Bethel. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Newtown.
Friends may call at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St., Newtown Thursday February 9, 2023 from 5:00pm to 8pm.
In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to Newtown Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 122, Newtown, CT 06470 or Ridgefield VNA www.rvnahealth.org