Husband of Anna NICKLES.

Obituary:
George P. Chacona, Erie's grand old candyman, dean of State St. merchants and symbol of America as "the land of opportunities," died early Monday in the Twinbrook Nursing and Convalescent Home, after an extended illness. He was ninety-two and lived at 2187 W. 8th. From humble boyhood as the son of a poor sheepherder in his native Goritsa, a suburb of Sparta, Greece, he went on to build a prominent candy business in America on an initial investment of $200. He made the name "Chacona's" prominent with Erie and environs over the years at 816 State - only half a block from his first candy store he opened in 1893 at 810 State. He called it the "Erie Sugar Bowl" then. On his 90th birthday Feb. 15, 1963, he was still going strong when his family honored him with a testimonial dinner at the Shrine club. He recalled then the early days of his business when he was making taffy and selling it at 10 cents a pound. He gradually improved and expanded his candy formulas which were of German origin. In the early days, he specialized in peanut brittle and taffy, and later branched out into chocolates and other types of candies he made famous in Erie. He was the last of a family of eight. A sister, Mary, died last week in Greece. There were four boys and four girls. The Chacona children had an uncle Chris Chacona, who had migrated to America and settled in Chicago in 1872. He sent money so George's two older brothers, John and Jim, could come to the United States. The two younger brothers, Spiros and George, followed in 1885. George was eleven then. John and Jim went into the fruit business in Milwaukee, Wis., and sent George to school there. In 1893, George Chacona came to Erie and opened his candy store, after a brief business experience in Conneaut and Ashtabula, O., and in Titusville, Pa. He was one of the founders of the Assumption Greek Orthodox church at 212 W. 8th, and a charter member ever since. He was a life member of Perry Blue Lodge 392, F. and A. M., the oldest and life member of the Zem Zem Temple; life member of the B.P.O. Elks Lodge No. 67, and life member of the Temple Royal Arch Chapter and Mount Olivet Commandery No. 30 for over 50 years. He once gave his formula for longetivy [sic] as having never smoked or drank. In 1903 he married Anna Nickles, of Olean, N.Y. They had 12 children. His wife, a daughter, Mrs. Aphrodite Constant and a son, Peter G. Chacona, preceded him in death. He is survived by seven daughters, Mrs. Amelia Kokoros, Mrs. John (Joan) Flors, Agnes, Tessie, Caeroy [sic] Chacona, Mrs. Peter (Esmine) Gotsie and Mrs. James (Artemis) Dodson; all of Erie; three sons, Hercules G., and Cycurgus [sic] G. Chacona, both of Erie; James T. Chacona, of Los Gatos, Calif.; 14 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Friends are invived to call at the C.J. Dusckas Funeral home, 2607 Buffalo rd., Monday from 7 to 10 p.m. and Tuesday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 10 p.m. and attend services there at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday. Further services will follow at 2 p.m. in the Assumption Greek Orthodox church, with interment in the Lakeside cemetery. Prayer services will be held at 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the funeral home. Perry Lodge 392 will hold Masonic services at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Zem Zem Crippled Children's Hospital and the Assumption Greek Orthodox church.
The Times
Erie, PA
Monday, Dec. 20, 1965