John E. Karaffa, 78, of Toronto, OH, passed away Saturday Oct. 11, 2014 in the Lancia Villa Royale in Steubenville, OH.

John was born Nov. 17, 1935 in Stratton, OH, son of the late Alex and Rose Franczek Karaffa.

John was retired form Timet-Titanium Metals Corp. and from Standard Carbon. He was also owner of Karaffa Enterprises.

He was a member of St. Joseph Byzantine Church and a current member of St. Francis Roman Catholic Church in Toronto. John was a 1953 graduate of Toronto High School and received a scholarship to play basketball from The College of Steubenville from 1953 to 1957. He served on the Toronto City Council as Council President, served as City Safety Director and also served on the Toronto City School Board. John was a member of the Toronto Boosters Club and Dyer Country Club and he also coached Junior High Girls basketball for many years.

John served his country in the U.S. Army from 1958-1960.

Surviving is his wife, Aldona J. (Pensis) Karaffa, whom he married on Nov. 26, 1955; his children, Cindy (Mark) Montgomery, David (Teresa) Karaffa and Matthew (Jennifer) Karaffa all of Toronto; his brother, Robert Elias (Maryann) Karaffa of Stuart, FL; seven grandchildren, Josh Montgomery, Mallory (Kyle) Kursim, Jack, Nathan and Noah Karaffa, Emily (David) Clark and Haley Downard; one great-grandson Mason Clark.

Visitation for John will be held on Tuesday Oct. 14, 2014 from 4-8 pm at the J.E. Foster Funeral Homes, Inc., 701 Findley St. in Toronto. Wednesday the family will gather at the funeral home from 9 - 9:30 am and his Funeral Liturgy with Mass will follow at 10 am at St. Francis Catholic Church on Findley St. in Toronto. Father Thomas Vennetti will celebrate his Mass and burial will follow in Fort Steuben Burial Estates in Wintersville, OH.

Vigil Services will be held on Tuesday at 3:45 pm prior to visitation.

Full Military honors will be provided by the Toronto American Legion Post #86.

Service Information

Vigil Service Tuesday October 14, 2014 3:45 PM J. E. Foster Funeral Homes 701 Findley St. Toronto, OH 43964 Visitation Tuesday October 14, 2014 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM J. E. Foster Funeral Homes 701 Findley St. Toronto, OH 43964 Funeral Mass Wednesday October 15, 2014 10:00 AM St. Francis Catholic Church 409 Grant St. Toronto, OH 43964