John Crociante

John Crociante, 74, of Muncy, died Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, at the Muncy Valley Hospital Emergency Room.

Born July 26, 1937, in South Philadelphia, he was a son of the late Joseph and Matilda Aquino Crociante. He and his wife, the former Anna M. “Nancy” Farley, celebrated 54 years of marriage on Sept. 7, 2011.

John graduated from Bok High School South Philadelphia, Class of 1955. He and his wife Nancy owned and operated Nancy & Johnny’s Country Tavern since 1978 and the Country Tavern pizza stand at the Lycoming County fair since 1984. It was there he coined the phrase “The pizza’s hot and the soda’s not.”

John loved spending time with his family and many friends at the tavern and fair. He also enjoyed salt water fishing with the Country Tavern crew.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are four sons, John (Bev) Crociante of Hughesville, Steven Crociante of Muncy, Joseph Crociante of California and Frank Crociante of Muncy; two daughters, Susan Crociante of Muncy and Anna (Randy) Vermeulen of Montoursville; a sister, Joanne (Anthony) Antonelli of Philadelphia; 12 grandchildren, Dale Bartlow Jr., Andy Bartlow, Rhondel Moyle, Jordan Crociante, Michael Irion, Marie (Chris) Tingley, Angela Segal, Ryan Crociante, Nicole O’Connor, James O’Connor, Curtis Vermeulen and Kyle Derrick; 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held 2 p.m. Tuesday, at the McCarty-Thomas Funeral Home, 557 E. Water St., Hughesville, with the Rev. Rob Ransom officiating. Burial followed in Webster Cemetery, Huntersville. Friends called from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

The family provided the flowers and suggest memorial contributions to the Huntersville United Methodist Church, 658 Village Rd., Pennsdale, PA 17756.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.mccartythomas.com.