Carmen F. DePedro

Carmen F. DePedro, 96, of Coatesville died Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at the Brandywine Hospital.

Born on January 24, 1924 in the 800 block of Coates St. in Coatesville, he was the first generation Italian American born to Frank and Lucia DePedro. His family name can be traced to many different spellings from DiDomonick, to Pietro, then DiPietro and finally DePedro.

The bombing of Pearl Harbor saw a 17-year old Carmen as a soldier in WWII.

Returning from the war, he landed a job at Sears & Roebuck on Lincoln Highway and then married the love of his life, Margaret “Peggy” Monaghan with whom he shared 53 years of marriage at the time of her death in 2001.

Carmen got his start in the flower industry at Hurley’s greenhouse on Blackhorse Hill Road to help the family, “as a 7 year old pollen runner”.  That was someone that would walk up and down the flower beds with a long stick that had a piece of cotton on the end to spread the pollen from one plant to another.   This interest from a young age, encouraged him to purchase A. Muir Flower & Jewelry Shop at 334 E. Lincoln Highway in 1948.  Changing the name to Coatesville Flower Shop and eventually moving the location to the corner of 3rd Avenue and Lincoln Highway, Carmen continued to work at the flower shop until 2 weeks before his passing.

Carmen was a faithful member of Our Lady of the Rosary Church.  In addition to running his business, Carmen was involved in many community organizations; the Coatesville Chamber of Commerce, Optimist Club of Coatesville, VFW Post 287, Moose Lodge 297, LGM Lodge, the West End Fire Co., the Polish American Club and American Legion. He also enjoyed his Tuesday night dinners with friends at Rocco & Anna’s in Parkesburg.

Surviving him are his two sons; Greg, husband of Dorrie and David, husband of Maryann; three grandchildren, John, husband of Tracy, Michael DiPietro and his wife, Ashley and Jacqueline DiPietro and her significant other, Ben.

Also surviving are the true loves of his life, his four great grandchildren, Payton, Anthony, Nicky and Marisa.  He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Lisa DePedro, and his siblings, Richard DiPietro, Vivian Berardi, Elsie DeLutis, Albert “PeeWee” DePedro, Anthony “Gus” DePedro, and Nicholas DePedro

All of us hold the true meaning of unconditional love given to us by this great man.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m., Saturday, September 25, 2021 at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 80 s. 17th Ave., Coatesville.  Relatives and friends may visit with the family from 10:30 to 12:30 p.m., Saturday at the Harris Mountain Funeral & Cremation Service, 1030 E. Lincoln Highway, Coatesville. Please follow masking and social distancing rules at the services.

Interment will be private at St. Cecilia Cemetery, Coatesville.

NEXT TIME YOU SEE A PRETTY FLOWER - THINK OF CARMEN

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