Obituary of John M. Duchessi

John M.Duchessi Sr., 85, of Lincoln Avenue, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning at St. Mary's Hospital with his son at his side. Born in Amsterdam on June 24, 1923, the son of the late Mariano & Maria Padovani Duchessi. He attended local schools and was employed as a foundry worker for General Electric for twenty five years until he retired. John Duchessi was dedicated to his country, his community, the boxing arena and to his friends. He entered the U.S. Army on January 2, 1943 and received the Purple Heart after being wounded on January 17, 1944 in the Battle for the Abbey at Monte Casino. He returned to battle after two months of recuperation in Bizertie, Africa and served in the Philippines for three months after the war. After the war he became an active member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, rising through the ranks of the organization. He served as New York State and Region Commander, then as National Commander in 1975-1976. He served as Chairman of the Board of the Military Order of Purple Heart Service Foundation in 1986. During his more than fifty years of distinguished service to the MOPH, his most notable occasion was his direct participation in the Department of Defense ceremony where posthumous awards of the Purple Heart Medal were presented at the entombed unknowns of WWI, WWII and Korea at Arlington National Cemetery on August 7, 1976. John Duchessi gave his time and talents to many civic organizations in which he played an active role. These included the Knights of Columbus, Sons of Italy, Little League Baseball and Football, Amsterdam Football Boosters and Scouting, as well as many other veterans groups not previously mentioned. During his twenty-five years with the General Electric Company, he served as Teamsters Union Steward for three years and ten years as Steward for the I.U E. He was a parishioner of Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church. Ever the pugilist in body and spirit, "Duke the Dropper" was an AAU Boxer before the war, posting 17 wins and 1 loss. In 1942, at station WRGB, he fought in one of the first televised fights. If there were a band of brothers that could somehow evoke the camaraderie of the men he fought with in World War II, those men were found at the South Side Coffee Shop. It was within that tight knit group that John Duchessi always remained young at heart, remained vibrant, delighted in hanging out with the "boys" and simply refused to get old. He leaves his beloved wife of nearly sixty years, Eleanor Zappone Duchessi; loving sons; John M. Jr. and his wife Janice Duchessi, and Anthony W. and his wife Lorraine Duchessi all of Amsterdam; grandchildren; Jamie and Torrey Duchessi, Denise West and Phillip Rossigno; great granddaughter Michelle West; brother; Peter and his wife Madeline Duchessi of Amsterdam; a sister; Emmelina Raccuia of Syracuse; and nieces, nephews and cousins. Brothers William and Anthony Duchessi, as well as sisters Angie Abballe and Victoria Martin all predeceased him. Services are Friday at 8:15 am at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, followed by the Mass Of Christian Burial at 9:15 am at Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Church. Fr. Lawrence J. Decker, celebrant. Interment with military honors will follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Calling hours are Thursday from 4-7pm at the funeral home where the Knights Of Columbus will meet at 6:15 pm and the Military Order Of The Purple Heart at 6:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Mount Carmel Cemetery Fund or the Stratton VA Medical Center both in care of the funeral home.