Fedele Porreca

Fedele C. ?Phil? Porreca, 89, died at 4:45 a.m. Aug. 22, 2009, at St. Rita?s Medical Center, Lima. He was born Oct. 14, 1919, in Torricella Peligna, Italy, to Joseph and Romilda Teti Porreca, who preceded him in death. On Sept. 6, 1948, he married Elizabeth Hughes, who died June 7, 1968. On Dec. 9, 1972, he married Mary V. ?Jeanne? Ironmonger, who survives in Lima. Mr. Porreca attended Buffalo State College and began his business career in New York and Pennsylvania as a plant manager for Fenestra Corp. and Keystone Alloys. In 1965, he moved his family to Lima where he joined DWG Cigar Corp. as industrial relations manager and personnel manager. He continued with that firm through its transition to become R.G. Dun Cigar Corp. and was the last president of that company and then the president of Superior Wholesale Co., which has followed at the same location, until his retirement. As president of R.G. Dun he was awarded a certificate of appreciation by Goodwill Industries as the employer of the year for the hiring of the handicapped. During the Second World War, he served in the U.S. Army from February 1941 to August 1945, seeing duty in Hawaii, Guadalcanal, the Island of New Britain, the Philippines, Luzon, Leyte and Mindanao. He was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. He was a charter member of the Lima Serra Club and a life member of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 54. He was a board member of the Better Business Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Lima Convalescent Home. He was also a member of the Rotary Club, and a member of Shawnee Country Club where he was an avid golfer. He was a great husband and father who loved the theater, good music, good books and time spent with his family. Survivors also include two sons, Joseph K. (Alice) Porreca, of Houston, Texas, and Francis C. (Linda) Porreca, of Lima; three daughters, Cathy Collins, of Lima, Mary (Bill) Walter, of Columbus, and Laurie (Ray) Shambrock, of Dayton; three grandchildren, Tina (Jim) Reed, of Lima, Brooke (Ray) Robinson, of Phoenix, and Justin Stoddard, of Columbus; five great-grandchildren, Brianna Wargo, Makayla and Hunter Reed, Jordan Dean, and Ray Robinson; a brother, Ettore (Louise) Porreca, of Buffalo, N.Y.; a sister-in-law, Mary Porreca, of Buffalo, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Anthony Porreca; and a sister and brother-in-law, Concetta (Albert) Deney. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. The Rev. Stephen Blum and the Rev. David Ross will officiate. Entombment will be in Gethsemani Mausoleum, Lima. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home, where a wake service will begin at 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Lima Central Catholic, or to an organization of the donor?s choice. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.