Obituary of James T. Yacono

James T. Yacono, 92, of 53 Evergreen St., Cortland, passed away with his loving family at his side at the home of his daughter Maria, October 23, 2009. Mr. Yacono was born January 8, 1917 in Cortland the son of the late Vincenzo and Maria Basile Yacono. Mr. Yacono was a lifelong resident of the area. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps during WW II, and along with other wartime veterans received his high school diploma in 2006 after a lifetime of learning. He retired from SUNY Cortland in 1981 after 10 years employment, prior to that he had been employed at the Cortland Corset Co. for a number of years. James was a communicant of St. Anthonys Church. A lifetime member, Golden Eagle of the Cortland Eagles Club. In recent years he had served as an Election Inspector. Throughout his life he enjoyed repairing sewing machines for many friends and family members. James was a loving and caring husband, father and grandparent and will be sadly missed. Mr. Yacono is survived by his two sons, John (Donna Covey) Yacono of Benicia, CA and Thomas (Robin) Yacono of San jose, CA. two daughters Maria (Quintin) Wooldridge and Luise (Eric VanBenschoten) Yacono both of Cortland. His beloved grandchildren Jamie (Brooke) Turner, Loni (Matthew) Swanson, Casey (Tom Avery) Wooldridge, Kari (Justin) Hutchings, Madison Wooldridge, Sarah, Nathan and Ryan Yacono. Six great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Mr. Yacono was predeceased by his wife of 57 years Gertrude E. Yacono in January of 2006. His brothers; joseph and Phillip, sisters; Catherine Schembri and Jennie Moretti. His infant brother and sister James and Lena Yacono and great grandson Alex Wesley Hutchings. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10:00 AM at St. Anthonys Church, Pomeroy St., Cortland. Interment will follow in St. Marys Cemetery. Friends are invited to call on Monday evening 5:00-8:00 PM at the Wright-Beard Funeral Home, 9 Lincoln Ave, Cortland. In lieu of flowers any one wishing to offer a memorial are asked to consider Caring Community Hospice of Cortland, 11 Kennedy Pkwy., Cortland or St. joseph s Hospital Cortland Dialysis Center., West Rd., Cortland . The family would like to express sincere thanks to James caregiver Marilyn Bishop, the staff at St. josephs Dialysis Center and Gale Grummons at Hospice. To offer condolences online, visit www.Wright-Beard.Com My heartfelt sympathy to the family. You are in my thoughts and prayers, especially my friend, Tom. James must have been a great man. Bless you all. kerry Tom, I'm sorry to hear about your father. I know this is a difficult time for you. Our prayers are with you and your family as you go through this time of rememberance and mourning. Patty Miller Mr. Yacano will be missed. On so many occassions he brought so much joy when he would visit at my parents. He was a wonderful,kind, and giving person. He was such a good friend to not only my dad but also my mother,as he would always take her side when the odds were stacked agaisnst her. He liked doing that just to get my dad going. Enjoy yourself in heaven Jim! Brenda John, Tom, Maria & Luise and families: Thinking of you all and wishing we were there. Our prayers and thoughts are with you on this sad day. He was a great man and we will always remember how kind and how much help he was to us when we lived on Fifth Avenue. He was truly a great friend and we loved him very much. The upside of this is that he will again be with the love of his life and his best friend, your Mom. All our love, Charlane & Mae Our hearts and prayers are with you all now. We are very sorry to hear of Jim's passing. He is now in God's hands, not in any pain and smiling because he has his loving family together, by his side, to celebrate his life. Be well.. Michele Montgomery Dear John, Tom, Maria, & Luise, Our love and prayers are with you at this sad time. Uncle Jim will be missed by all of us. Your Dad and Mom were always so kind to me, Terry and Billy. God Bless. Tess, Ed & BJ. Dear John, Tom, Maria, Luise and family, We are so very sad to hear of Uncle Jim's passing. It is hard to believe because we just expected him to live forever. We have wonderful memories of him, his stories, his humor and his positive attitude. We were blessed to have hiim as the Yacono/Yacano family patriarch fo so long! We will miss him but his spirit will live on in us all forever. Love to all, Terri, Rick, Marc, Colin & Neal Dear John, Tom, Maria & Luise, Wow, I was one of those nieces who loved to listen to Uncle Jim tell those stories as a kid and how poor Aunt Jay got the cheese grater in the chest cause Uncle Jim ducked out of the way. Who is going to tell these stories now? Who will I send my cards to now that Uncle Jim is gone. I loved sitting down to my computer and making him a card from scratch it meant so much more to me than buying one at the store. Every Friday and Saturday night we spent either at our house or Uncle Jim's and Aunt Gert's and my Dad made pizza or pizza frete those were the good times or going to Ithaca to Aunt Catherine's farm and I learned to drive the tractor at 12 and got to give all you kids rides do you remember Tom? The out house and the water pump down by the road we had to prime to get a drink? Wow do we have some memories growing up in the Yacano/Yacono family. I got so close to Uncle Jim when Aunt Jay was sick and Uncle Jim became my favorite uncle. I am so glad we had this time to get to know one another so well and I was able to enjoy so much of "My Uncle Jim"... He was a great man that I will miss for a very long time to come. God Bless You Uncle Jim and say "hi" to everyone in heaven. I love you, Stephie