John D. McDermott

John D. McDermott, 64, of Freeport, passed away on April 8,2017 in the Good Samaritan Hospice Unit at Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Jefferson Twp.He was born on June 16, 1952 in Natrona Heights, to the late Ralph H. and Stella (Podsiadlowski) McDermott.As a life-long resident of Freeport, John attended St. Mary Parochial School and was a graduate of the Freeport High School, Class of 1970. He worked delivering groceries for the former Camerlo’s Market, where he met his wife, Karen, whom he married in 1973. John worked for 29 years as a Steelworker at ATI Brackenridge, and was a member of U.S.W.A Local 1196. John attended the IUP Police Academy and was in its first class to graduate from the Municipal Police Academy. John went on to then serve as a police officer in the Borough of Elderton and later became the Chief of Police for Hyde Park Borough. After retirement, John continued to serve his community working as a school crossing guard for the Freeport Borough Police Department.John was a member of St. Mary, Mother of God, Roman Catholic Church, Freeport. In addition, he was a member of the Legion of Mary and the Freeport Historical Society. John loved his cats, spending time with family, watching John Wayne and Clint Eastwood westerns, hunting, target shooting, genealogy, traveling, and most recently achieved a life-long goal of visiting Ireland.John leaves to cherish his memory, his daughters, Melissa (James R.) Golembesky of Freeport, Kelley (David J.) Hynes of Buffalo Twp., Granddaughter, Danica A. Golembesky, his two sisters, Vicky (Joseph) Hoffman of Buffalo Twp., Barbara (John) Fleming of Buffalo Twp., his brother, Ralph (Paula) McDermott of South Buffalo Twp., many nieces and nephews, and his companion, Katherine Maze of Freedom.In addition to his parents, mentioned above, he was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Karen A. (Pike) McDermott, his maternal grandparents, Walter and Victoria Podsiadlowski, his paternal grandparents, Frank and Carrie McDermott, and his nephew, Daniel J. Fleming.

Family and friends will be received on Tuesday, April 11 from 2-4pm and 6-8 pm in the DENNIS J. DAUGHERTY FUNERAL HOME, 324 Fourth Street, Freeport, PA, 724-295-3100, where a parting prayer service will be held at 9:30 am on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. Christian Funeral Mass will follow at 10:00 am at St. Mary, Mother of God, Roman Catholic Church, Freeport with his pastor, Reverend Ronald Maquinana as celebrant. Burial will follow in the St. Mary Cemetery, Freeport.The family respectfully requests memorial contributions may be made to Dennis J. Daugherty Funeral Home, 324 Fourth Street, Freeport, PA 16229 to defray funeral expenses.

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