By Justin Strawser
The Daily Item
MOUNT CARMEL, Pa. — Sheila Zanella made her husband a promise two months before he passed away from complications from cancer -- that she would finish the restoration of a veterans memorial he was too sick to complete.
On Saturday, she is hosting a benefit dinner with hopes to raise the final funds and fulfill the promise she made to Joseph Zanella, who died March 20 at age 60.
Approximately $4,500 is needed to order a plaque for the memorial and repair the structure at Beaverdale Fire Company.
“This was important to him, to get this done,” Sheila said Thursday. “I’m finishing this in memory of him and for all the veterans in the area.”
While he wasn’t a veteran, Zanella was always supportive of those serving in the military, including his father, uncle and other family members. Eight years ago, he took it upon himself to repair the Beaverdale memorial, which had fallen into disrepair.
Once he was diagnosed with cancer, the project fell by the wayside.
Funding and grants were unable to be found to repair the memorial, Beaverdale Fire Chief Bill Ahrensfield said.
“It’s a great thing that it will be done now,” he said.
Joseph Zanella was a Mount Carmel Township supervisor for six years where he was recently appointed board president, a Beaverdale fire chief for 20 years, a past president of the township’s Fireman’s Relief Association, a retired carpenter and owner of A to Z Concessions. He was also a Cubmaster to the local Boy Scouts, an Eagle Scout who was proud when their youngest son attained the same rank, and a Mason, contributing to community work.
“He was all about the community,” Sheila said. “He had a lot of friends, he knew a lot of people. He enjoyed serving people.”
Joseph Edward Zanella, their 20-year-old son, has followed in his father’s footsteps, being elected to the Mount Carmel school board two years ago.
“I always had aspirations, but he was the one who helped me get there,” he said.
Sean Zanella, their 38-year-old son, said his father was a busy man who taught him carpentry, roofing, masonry and other aspects of the trade.
Joseph and Sheila were married for 38 years and also have a 29-year-old daughter Rachel Taylor, who lives in Reading.
Township Supervisor Reynold Scicchitano, who knew Joseph Zanella for years prior to serving on the board together, called him a good man and a close personal friend.
“He was very citizen-orientated,” Scicchitano said. “He believed in doing what was best for the township. He was an asset to the township.”
Township Police Chief Brian Hollenbush, who went to school with Sean Zanella and knew Joseph Zanella for years, said it’s a shame what happened to Zanella, but it’s nice that the monument is being finished.
“He was a good-hearted person and this was his dream to get the monument done,” said Hollenbush. “Unfortunately, he won’t get to see it finished.”
Zanella would do anything for someone in need, Hollenbush said.
“He was always about the people. It was about we, not about I with him,” he said.
Ahrensfield has “nothing but respect” for Zanella and his family, he said. “He was a good man who dedicated his time to the community for years.”
Even through his sickness, Joseph Zanella remained positive, Sheila Zanella said.
Scicchitano described him as always upbeat.
“He put his sickness behind him, he didn’t dwell on it,” he said. “He would come into the office and tell us he wanted to be among the people.”
Unless you were aware he was sick, you wouldn’t know, Hollenbush said.
“He fought until the very end,” he said. “I never hear him say ‘I’m sick’ or ‘Feel bad for me.’ He wasn’t that type of person.”
The memorial, located next to fire station along the Locust Gap Highway, features a brick patio and wall, a stone statue of an eagle and a flag pole holding the American flag. Once complete, the wall will hold the bronze 5 by 9 -foot plaque and another two flag poles will be installed to hold the POW-MIA and state flags. Lights will also be installed.
The plaque will include a quote from Isaiah 6:8: “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am. Send me.’”
The plaque is expensive -- $2,200 was already raised and another $4,500 is needed to pay for the plaque itself, electrical work and minor repairs to the brickwork.
“I can’t think of a more appropriate expression of love of country,” Sheila Zanella said.
The benefit dinner will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Divine Redeemer Church, 438 West Ave., Mount Carmel. The homemade chicken and waffles dinner is $10 a ticket and will feature Rick Catino, a Vietnam war veteran, as a special guest speaker, a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction.
Reservations are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome as well, Sheila Zanella said.
The dedication for the memorial is scheduled for 10 a.m. July 4 outside the Beaverdale Fire Company.
To make reservations for the dinner, call (570) 339-1519. Contributions to the memorial can be sent to 844 W. Fifth St., Mount Carmel.
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