John Francis Hess of Matamoras, Pa., and a lifetime resident of the area passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. He was 78.
Son of the late Paul F. Hess and the late Helen “Honey” McKeon Hess, he was born Jan. 13, 1942, in Port Jervis, N.Y.
John proudly served his country in the U.S. Army with an honorable discharge.
He married Clementina “Tina” Fontana 53 years ago on Nov. 25, 1967, in St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Matamoras, Pa.
He worked for IBM in E. Fishkill and later was the owner and operator of Hess’s Store on Kingston Avenue in Port Jervis as the second-generation owner.
John was a member of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Matamoras, where he was a Lector and a member of the Holy Name Society. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #471, Port Jervis. John was a past Ssupervisor for Westfall Township and a past president of the Westfall Volunteer Fire Department. He also was an assistant Boy Scout Troop Master and a Port Jervis Little League Baseball Coach.
A family statement read, “John was a wonderful husband and father who had a deep Catholic Faith. He was always there to help people even when he was ill and never complained about his illness. The family would like to thank Dr. Walter Kaufmann and Dr. Rakesh Garg for the wonderful care they gave to John.”
Surviving are his wife, Clementina “Tina” Hess, at home; son, John W. Hess and his wife, Tina, of Matamoras; brother Paul “P.C.” Hess and his wife, Geri, of Albuquerque, N.M;. sister Marie “Sissy” Quick and her husband, Sidney, of Port Jervis; and his brother, Brendan Hess, and his wife, Patricia, of Port Jervis; his good friends, Diane and Frank Heater of Matamoras; and several nieces and nephew.
He was predeceased by his brother Joseph Hess; sister Maura Hess-Ochsen; and his brother-in-law, William A. Fontana.
Visitation was held at Gray-Parker Funeral Home in Port Jervis on Dec. 22. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Dec. 23 in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Port Jervis, with the Rev. Matthew Newcomb officiating. Burial followed at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Port Jervis.
Memorial contributions may be made to Westfall Volunteer Fire Department, Matamoras, PA 18336; or St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 307 Ave. F., Matamoras, PA 1833.