Robert J. Ciaruffoli Sr., 88, left his pain and his body behind on Sunday evening, December 25, 2016, after a long-fought battle with Alzheimer’s.

Born in Sugar Notch on May 04, 1928, Bob was the son of the late Alessandro and Clara (Zinanni) Ciaruffoli, and only brother to Rena Baron Gunkle and Joan Trosko who have been patiently waiting for him since their recent passing’s this year.

He served in the United States Army Air Corp before marrying his wife, Martha, on January 27, 1951. From that moment, they set out on a lifetime together, during which time Bob became the proud father to 10 children.

He wore many professional hats, including TV repairman and delicatessen owner. He spent years as a truck driver for Defazio and Branch, eventually retiring from Roadway Express.

His heart shone proudest as devoted husband, father, and “Nonno” to his grandchildren. A true family man, he worked incredible hours for the sake of bettering his children’s quality of life, to include small luxuries like Sunday drives in the family station wagon with a stop at Ristagno’s Bakery.

Bob loved, among many things, the music of Barbara Streisand and Frank Sinatra; he loved after-dinner coffee and lemon lush dessert; while his early life was fiercely dedicated to his family, he took up golf when his children were grown, playing up and down the eastern seaboard, but feeling most at home with his golf buddies at the Four Seasons Golf Club in Exeter.

He was a proud man and devout Catholic who never had a negative thing to say about anyone. He was often caught whistling to himself and made a habit of opening his home and heart to whoever joined his beautiful family. When you married into his family, you were a Ciaruffoli, without question. 

A strong and well-respected patriarch, he was the designated “Santa” each year, passing out presents to eager grandchildren at the family’s annual Christmas Eve celebration. Bob’s low, rolling voice calling names from under his big red Santa hat will be missed.

Though his last years were taken from him by such a strange, cruel disease, those who had the honor of knowing him will forever see him with twinkling eyes, a sweet smile on his lips, and a disarmingly subtle sense of humor. He will be remembered, too, for his quiet demeanor—a man of few words, his charm and kindness were easily conveyed through his facial expressions.

He is survived by the love of his life, wife, Martha (Kuhar), along with their children: Robert J. Ciaruffoli, Jr. and wife, Kathleen, of Philadelphia; Veronica Ciaruffoli of Larksville; Renee Taffera and husband, John (deceased), of Larksville; Denise Castellani and husband, Patrick, of Drums; Daria Crolick and husband, Lawrence, of Kingston; Martina Schuler and husband, Jeffery, of Waymart; Alexander Ciaruffoli and wife, Yvette, of Garland, TX; Jeffery Ciaruffoli and wife, Yong Mi, of Shavertown; Jill Martin of Wyomissing, William Martin of Dallas; and Vanessa Sherman and husband, David, of Baltimore. He is also survived by 23 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

Relatives and Friends are respectfully invited to Bob’s Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated on Friday, December 30, 2016, at 10:30 AM in Saint Ignatius Loyola Roman Catholic Church, 339 North Maple Avenue, Kingston.

Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Hanover Township, where Military Honors will be accorded by the United States Air Force.

Family and Friends are invited to the viewing which will be held at Saint Ignatius Loyola Church on Friday morning from 8:45 to 10:15 AM.

Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort

For additional information or to send the Ciaruffoli Family an online message of condolence, you may visit the funeral home web-site www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com.

Due to the church being decorated for Christmas, the family has kindly requested that flowers be omitted. Memorial Contributions may be made in Bob’s memory to Saint Ignatius Loyola Church, Building Fund, 339 North Maple Avenue, Kingston, Pennsylvania 18704.