Fred J. Fanelli, Sr.

Fred J. Fanelli, Sr., 85, formerly of Pottsville, passed away at his home in Fort Myers, Florida, surrounded by his family. He was born February 7, 1930, in Pottsville the son of the late Joseph and Theresa Minchoff Fanelli. After his 1948 graduation from Pottsville Catholic High School, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in Okinawa during the Korean War. After the war, he returned to Pottsville and with his brother Lou, opened a gas station. He and Lou then started Fanelli Brothers Garage which led to the purchase of a single tractor-trailer. He and Lou would take turns every night hauling mail from Pottsville to Philadelphia after working all day in the garage. This resulted in the formation of Fanelli Brothers Trucking which grew to operate in 48 states. He then saw opportunities in the home window replacement business which led to the formation of Fanelli Window Pros. He then helped form Regency Plus which is a window manufacturing business located in Mt. Carmel, which does business along the entire east coast and Texas and which employs dozens of people. He also founded Window Group, Ltd., which is a commercial real estate enterprise and warehousing company. He had an entrepreneurial zeal characterized by him often saying that “you can’t succeed unless you are unafraid to fail.” From his death bed he was giving his sons business ideas and advice. He was active in his community. He was chairman of the board of the Pottsville Housing Authority for many years. He was a life member at Goodwill Hose Company. He loved his Italian buddies from Shenandoah and was active in Unico. He was a parishioner of St. John the Baptist Church, Pottsville. He was involved with many veteran’s organizations. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Joanne Monahan Fanelli, and siblings, Joseph, William, John, Edward and Lucille Mae. After his wife’s untimely death, he was tasked with the sole responsibility of caring for his four sons. He is survived by his wife Molly McKeone Fanelli, his four boys and their spouses, Attorney Frederick J. Fanelli and wife Jill, Pottsville, Marty Fanelli and wife Denise, Palo Alto, Gary Fanelli and his wife Elaine, Lititz and Bill Fanelli and his wife Melissa, Pottsville, ten grandchildren, Kyle, Ryan, Nick, Christopher, Caroline, Olivia, Kory, Emily Jack and Maria; two great-grandchildern Dessa and Chase. siblings, Lou, Orwigsburg; Theresa Cremia, Lake Wynonah; Pat Mitnitsky, Dunwoody, Georgia; Josephine Kochol, Pottsville; Conceda Krell, Houston, Texas; Kathleen Palmer, Orlando, Florida; stepchildren, Lt. Col. Dennis Bowers and wife Barbara, South Korea, Sheila Evans, Denise Fessler and husband Edward, Cape Coral, Florida, Melissa Barone and husband Joseph, Harrisburg and Tony Bowers and wife Tammy, St. Clair and ten step-grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 A.M. Thursday at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville with the Rev. David J. Loeper as celebrant. Family and friends may call at the church Wednesday evening from 6:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M. and from 10:00 A.M.-10:45 A.M. Thursday. The would prefer remembrances in the form of contribution made to the Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Ave. Ste 310, White Plains, NY 10605. Interment with military honors will be at Queen of the Universe Cemetery, Pottsville. James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville, is in charge of arrangements. Please share your memories and condolences with Fred's family by signing the guest book at www.jehumphreyfuneralhome.com