John Curea, Sr.

Boardman - John Curea, Sr., 97, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 25, 2024, at Masternick Memorial Health Care Center in New Middletown surrounded by his loving family. 

John was born March 20, 1927 in Niles, Ohio, a son of the late Juan and Anna (Oltean) Curea. 

When he was eight years old, John's family returned to Romania to live. After graduating from high school, John and his family returned to the United States. He later graduated from Youngstown College with a degree in engineering. 

John served in the U.S. Army 103rd Combat Engineer Battalion from 1952 to 1954 and in the 28th and 9th Infantry Divisions during the Korean Conflict, including a stint in Germany as part of the NATO Occupation Force. After his time in the military, John returned to the Mahoning Valley. 

John was an engineer for Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation in Youngstown for over 36 years, retiring in 1992. 

He was a member of Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church on Wick Avenue in Youngstown, a member of The Legion of Romanian-American Volunteers (LRAV), the American Legion Post 565 in Boardman, and VFW Post 3538 in Struthers. He was a licensed amateur radio operator. John also served as an auxiliary police officer with the Youngstown Police Department.

John was devoted to his faith as well as a husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He was a member of the Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club, where he enjoyed working on old cars and restoring them. He loved listening to music and playing his harmonica.

John is survived by two children, his daughter, Shirley A. Collins of Coral Springs, FL, and a son, John (Cathy) Curea, Jr. of Enon Valley, PA; five grandchildren, Marlon (Faye) Pineda, Jason (Mohnka Abramchuk fiancée) Curea, Candace (John) Higbee, Christa (Justin) Cyr, and Sarah (Austin) Nottke; four great-grandchildren, Jionni, Myla, Declan, and Sienna Rose. 

Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, the former Patricia R. Ekionak, whom he married on July 15, 1956 and died September 30, 2016; a son-in-law, Mark Collins; and his sister, Elizabeth "Veta" Nicoara.

Family and friends may call on Monday, January 6, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Davis-Becker Funeral Home, 8536 Market Street in Boardman. A funeral service will follow on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with the Reverend Father Cezar Cisloiu officiating. Interment will take place at Belmont Park Cemetery in Youngstown, Ohio.

The family requests that material tributes take the form of contributions to the American Cancer Society, c/o Breast Cancer Research, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741 in memory of John.

Please visit www.beckerobits.com to share memories and condolences with John's family.