The Reverend John DeNicola, the 7th child of Gaetano (Guy) DeNicola and Adelina Erminia Vizza, was born on September 2, 1932. John was of the 1st generation of DeNicola's born a citizen of the United States. John worked while going to school, starting at the early age of 12 when he obtained his first job at the VFW. He would arrive home after school, eat supper, do his home-work (occasionally), ride his bike several miles to the VFW, work in the kitchen until 1:00 am, and then ride his bike home. When asked why he worked, he said, "I always liked to have some change in my pocket." It was said that he was a good dancer, excelling at the "Jitter-bug", a dance popular in the 1940's.
John enjoyed high school, excelling in math, mechanical drawing and the performing arts. He was a self-taught pianist and vocalist (his voice was compared to Dean Martin's) who had the ability to sight read music and "hear" every part of a musical score. John attended Greenville High School located in Greenville, Pennsylvania, where he was the only freshman accepted as a member of the High School choir. He graduated from Greenville High School in May of 1950. After graduation John worked at the Greenville Steel Car as a crane operator.
Sometime between his high school graduation and 1953 John felt the call to become a minister. He enrolled in Eastern Bible Institute, located in Green Lane, Pennsylvania, in 1954. It was there during his 2nd year that he met his future wife, Esther Marie Gable. He graduated from the Ministerial program in 1957. Within 3 months after graduation from "EBI" John obtained his "License to Preach" from the New England Council of the Assemblies of God, accepted a position to pastor a pioneer work in Dexter, Maine, married Esther and moved to Dexter right after returning from their honeymoon.
John and Esther started their family in 1958 with the addition of son, John Mark. Another son, Eric Stephen, was added in 1962. The family ministered to six congregations during their life time with their last pastorate in Brave, Pennsylvania in 1971. They moved to Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, in 1983 when a new church was built in that town (the church in Brave having been moved). John was well-known for his straight-forward, inspirational sermons and would participate in all music venues in the church including solos, duets with Esther, leading the choir, and providing piano accompaniment for Esther's solos. While serving as a pastor he also chaired and served on multiple committees and organizations that benefited the local schools, churches, and communities. At the time of his passing he was serving as Board Vice President of the Woods at Cedar Run in Camp Hill.
John died on March 9, 2008 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He was preceded in death by wife Esther, who died on February 24, 1987 in Morgantown, West Virginia after a prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife Dorothy M. (Seslar/Conant) DeNicola and many family members. John and Esther are buried in Trinity Cemetery located outside of Felton, Pennsylvania.
John enjoyed high school, excelling in math, mechanical drawing and the performing arts. He was a self-taught pianist and vocalist (his voice was compared to Dean Martin's) who had the ability to sight read music and "hear" every part of a musical score. John attended Greenville High School located in Greenville, Pennsylvania, where he was the only freshman accepted as a member of the High School choir. He graduated from Greenville High School in May of 1950. After graduation John worked at the Greenville Steel Car as a crane operator.
Sometime between his high school graduation and 1953 John felt the call to become a minister. He enrolled in Eastern Bible Institute, located in Green Lane, Pennsylvania, in 1954. It was there during his 2nd year that he met his future wife, Esther Marie Gable. He graduated from the Ministerial program in 1957. Within 3 months after graduation from "EBI" John obtained his "License to Preach" from the New England Council of the Assemblies of God, accepted a position to pastor a pioneer work in Dexter, Maine, married Esther and moved to Dexter right after returning from their honeymoon.
John and Esther started their family in 1958 with the addition of son, John Mark. Another son, Eric Stephen, was added in 1962. The family ministered to six congregations during their life time with their last pastorate in Brave, Pennsylvania in 1971. They moved to Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, in 1983 when a new church was built in that town (the church in Brave having been moved). John was well-known for his straight-forward, inspirational sermons and would participate in all music venues in the church including solos, duets with Esther, leading the choir, and providing piano accompaniment for Esther's solos. While serving as a pastor he also chaired and served on multiple committees and organizations that benefited the local schools, churches, and communities. At the time of his passing he was serving as Board Vice President of the Woods at Cedar Run in Camp Hill.
John died on March 9, 2008 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He was preceded in death by wife Esther, who died on February 24, 1987 in Morgantown, West Virginia after a prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife Dorothy M. (Seslar/Conant) DeNicola and many family members. John and Esther are buried in Trinity Cemetery located outside of Felton, Pennsylvania.
The Reverend John DeNicola, the 7th child of Gaetano (Guy) DeNicola and Adelina Erminia Vizza, was born on September 2, 1932. John was of the 1st generation of DeNicola's born a citizen of the United States. John worked while going to school, starting at the early age of 12 when he obtained his first job at the VFW. He would arrive home after school, eat supper, do his home-work (occasionally), ride his bike several miles to the VFW, work in the kitchen until 1:00 am, and then ride his bike home. When asked why he worked, he said, "I always liked to have some change in my pocket." It was said that he was a good dancer, excelling at the "Jitter-bug", a dance popular in the 1940's.
John enjoyed high school, excelling in math, mechanical drawing and the performing arts. He was a self-taught pianist and vocalist (his voice was compared to Dean Martin's) who had the ability to sight read music and "hear" every part of a musical score. John attended Greenville High School located in Greenville, Pennsylvania, where he was the only freshman accepted as a member of the High School choir. He graduated from Greenville High School in May of 1950. After graduation John worked at the Greenville Steel Car as a crane operator.
Sometime between his high school graduation and 1953 John felt the call to become a minister. He enrolled in Eastern Bible Institute, located in Green Lane, Pennsylvania, in 1954. It was there during his 2nd year that he met his future wife, Esther Marie Gable. He graduated from the Ministerial program in 1957. Within 3 months after graduation from "EBI" John obtained his "License to Preach" from the New England Council of the Assemblies of God, accepted a position to pastor a pioneer work in Dexter, Maine, married Esther and moved to Dexter right after returning from their honeymoon.
John and Esther started their family in 1958 with the addition of son, John Mark. Another son, Eric Stephen, was added in 1962. The family ministered to six congregations during their life time with their last pastorate in Brave, Pennsylvania in 1971. They moved to Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, in 1983 when a new church was built in that town (the church in Brave having been moved). John was well-known for his straight-forward, inspirational sermons and would participate in all music venues in the church including solos, duets with Esther, leading the choir, and providing piano accompaniment for Esther's solos. While serving as a pastor he also chaired and served on multiple committees and organizations that benefited the local schools, churches, and communities. At the time of his passing he was serving as Board Vice President of the Woods at Cedar Run in Camp Hill.
John died on March 9, 2008 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He was preceded in death by wife Esther, who died on February 24, 1987 in Morgantown, West Virginia after a prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife Dorothy M. (Seslar/Conant) DeNicola and many family members. John and Esther are buried in Trinity Cemetery located outside of Felton, Pennsylvania.
John enjoyed high school, excelling in math, mechanical drawing and the performing arts. He was a self-taught pianist and vocalist (his voice was compared to Dean Martin's) who had the ability to sight read music and "hear" every part of a musical score. John attended Greenville High School located in Greenville, Pennsylvania, where he was the only freshman accepted as a member of the High School choir. He graduated from Greenville High School in May of 1950. After graduation John worked at the Greenville Steel Car as a crane operator.
Sometime between his high school graduation and 1953 John felt the call to become a minister. He enrolled in Eastern Bible Institute, located in Green Lane, Pennsylvania, in 1954. It was there during his 2nd year that he met his future wife, Esther Marie Gable. He graduated from the Ministerial program in 1957. Within 3 months after graduation from "EBI" John obtained his "License to Preach" from the New England Council of the Assemblies of God, accepted a position to pastor a pioneer work in Dexter, Maine, married Esther and moved to Dexter right after returning from their honeymoon.
John and Esther started their family in 1958 with the addition of son, John Mark. Another son, Eric Stephen, was added in 1962. The family ministered to six congregations during their life time with their last pastorate in Brave, Pennsylvania in 1971. They moved to Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, in 1983 when a new church was built in that town (the church in Brave having been moved). John was well-known for his straight-forward, inspirational sermons and would participate in all music venues in the church including solos, duets with Esther, leading the choir, and providing piano accompaniment for Esther's solos. While serving as a pastor he also chaired and served on multiple committees and organizations that benefited the local schools, churches, and communities. At the time of his passing he was serving as Board Vice President of the Woods at Cedar Run in Camp Hill.
John died on March 9, 2008 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He was preceded in death by wife Esther, who died on February 24, 1987 in Morgantown, West Virginia after a prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife Dorothy M. (Seslar/Conant) DeNicola and many family members. John and Esther are buried in Trinity Cemetery located outside of Felton, Pennsylvania.
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