It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father Joseph Matthew Cherundolo, 64, of Clarks Summit.  Born on May 3, 1959, he was the son of the late Michael Cherundolo and the late Catherine " Tina" Roque Cherundolo. He always had a very strong relationship with his parents and he missed them so much throughout the years since their passings.  Knowing now that he is reunited with them and wrapped in their loving arms brings our family some peace and comfort.

Everything about our father's passing was so beautiful.  He passed away very peacefully at his daughter Maria and husband Matt's home.  A ray of sunshine was coming through the window shining right down on him.  All you could hear in his room was relaxing island music playing with the sound of waves crashing and the aroma of lavender was circulating throughout the air .  He took his very last breath in the arms of his daughter, Jolane, while feeling the love from all of the hands that were placed on him by his daughter Maria, son in laws Frank and Matt, grandsons Logan and Noah, and granddaughter Milana.  His favorite dog Toby was lying beside him through it all.  Our Dad / PaPa waited for all of us to be there and then he finally felt safe enough to let go.  It was a very peaceful ending to a very hard fought brief battle with cancer.

He was a 1977 graduate of West Scranton High School.  Joseph lived in several places in his life including California, Arizona, and Texas.  He moved back to Scranton, Pa in 2009 to come back home to live closer to his family.  He was a very hard worker throughout his life but the jobs that he loved most were any jobs that he had in carpentry and his most recent job that he took pride in as a security guard.

He was the quite the handyman who was willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. He loved to spend time outdoors. Some of his favorites were fishing, camping, and doing his yard work. He loved to catch sun rays while cutting his grass and he always made sure to call and tell us about his bad sunburn he would get from being out there too long.  He had the greatest personality and funniest sense of humor.  He had the purest heart of gold, a strong love for his family and his love for coffee was like no other.  He leaves behind a family that will miss him immensely.  To be loved by him was very truly something special.

He is survived by his two daughters Jolane Sottile of Dunmore, Maria Cielski of Clarks Summit, the mother of his two daughters Sharon Caruso of Dunmore, always held a special place in his heart, son in laws Frank Sottile and Matthew Cielski, 8 grandchildren who were the absolute light of his life, Aliyah, Nathan, Logan, and Noah Sottile, all of Dunmore, and Milana ,Mason and Morgan and Myla Cielski, all of Clarks Summit.  The stepfather of his two daughters Dan Zayac of Dunmore, was truly someone special to Joe and he thought the world of him, sister Sharon Durbin of Dupont, one niece, 2 nephews, three great nieces, and three great nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.

He was preceded in death by his brother Michael Cherundolo.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday March 3 at the John F. Glinsky Funeral Home, Inc. 445 Sanderson St. Throop.  Family and friends are welcome to pay their respects from 2-4 p.m., with a blessing service being held at 3 p.m.

Joseph's daughters would like to thank his nurses Kat, Dana, Emma, Annie and everyone else from Sacred Heart Hospice that helped support and guide him in some way through his journey of keeping him home.  Jolane and Maria also want to send out a heartfelt thanks to Jennifer and Maureen from Hospice of the Sacred Heart for all their love, support, guidance, and compassion.  It truly meant the world to them that you both were there to help comfort and guide them through their darkest day.

As for our Dad, he loved the whole hospice staff and he smiled every time they came through the door.  We are sure he is now up in Heaven standing on his own two feet with a big cup of coffee in his right hand saying "Bueno", "Its all good"