Mario Dibiase

Mario DiBiase, 87, of South Heidelberg Twp. died January 17, 2007 in Spruce Manor, West Reading, where he had been a resident since January 9, 2007. He was the devoted husband of Anna (Ferrara) DiBiase. Born in Palena, Chieti, Italy, he was a son of the late Falco and Virginia (Carozza) DiBiase and the youngest of their 10 children.

Mario served in the Italian military from 1943 to 1945. Later he traveled to Germany in order to find work and found such with the German Railroad. He spent seven years there during which time he returned to his home town in Italy to visit only twice yearly. Upon arriving in the United States with his wife and two of his sons in 1969, he would declare that the greatest treasure he found in this country, in addition to the privilege of having a job, was seeing his family seated together each evening at the dinner table. The love he had for his wife, children and grandchildren was clearly demonstrated in all he did. They were his greatest joy.

One of the happiest days of Mario's life was the day he was granted U.S. Citizenship. It was greatly celebrated with family and co-workers of Elite Sportswear in November of 1981, where Mario last worked. There he constructed balance beams for Berks Gymnastics and other places.

Mario is also survived by three sons, Nino husband of Elisa (D'Angelo) DiBiase, Milan, Italy, Falco F. husband of Maria (Gentile) DiBiase, South Heidelberg Township and Raffaele husband of Catharine S. (Donovan) DiBiase, Wernersville. Other survivors include one brother, Giovanni DiBiase, Toronto, Canada, eight grandchildren, Mario DiBiase & Maria Teresa DiBiase, Milan, Italy, Annamaria DiBiase Dolinsky, wife of Matthew Dolinsky, Gina DiBiase Knorr, wife of Todd Knorr, Melissa DiBiase, Samantha DiBiase, Diana DiBiase and Michele DiBiase and five great-grandchildren Elvira DiBiase & Davide DiBiase, Milan, Italy, Matthew Dolinsky, John Paul Dolinsky and Joseph Dolinsky.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 10:30 a.m. in St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church, Whitfield. Entombment will be in Gethsemane Mausoleum. Friends may call one hour before the service at the church. Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 North Michigan Ave. Suite 1700 Chicago, IL 60601 or to St. Ignatius Loyola Church Memorial Fund 2810 St. Albans Drive Sinking Spring, PA 19608. Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading is in charge of arrangements. www.kuhnfuneralhome.com