John D. Hearty

John David Hearty passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at 63 years old. He was the beloved husband of 38 years to Kathleen (nee Master), proud father of 3 children, Kristen (Matt), Melinda (Ryan), and Johnny, and cherished grandfather (or “Poppers” as he preferred) to 6 grandchildren, Jacob (12), Benjamin (8), Kaley (6), Nora (4), Cole (17 months), and Helen (15 months). John is also survived by his siblings, Thomas (Marie), Jacqueline (Robert), Maureen, and Peter (Brenda) as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is predeceased by his parents, John and Cora Hearty, and his brother-in-law, Vincent Paravecchia.

John was born in Philadelphia, and after moving upstate for some time, the family moved back to Philadelphia. This is where he met and married the love of his life, Kathleen, on April 20, 1985. They had 3 children and lived in Southwest Philadelphia for 15 years before moving to Folsom in 2000. John spent his career working for the Navy Yard for 41 years before retiring in May 2022. He loved being around people, and he could start a conversation with anyone in any location. He was incredibly funny (even if borderline inappropriate at times), charismatic, and he could charm anyone with his blue eyes. John was compassionate, and he could get along with almost anyone that came in his path. He was a big fan of sci-fi shows and movies, and he had a massive toy collection because of it. Anyone who truly knows John knows about his toy den including memorabilia from Star Wars, Star Trek, Game of Thrones, Highlander, Lost in Space, etc. He was a carpenter, and he helped anyone and everyone with dozens of home projects. He could figure out a solution for almost everything even if it was out of the box. John was also a strong supporter of the armed forces, and he was fascinated by their history. He was especially proud of his family and friends who served. In recent years, John struggled with type 1 diabetes and glaucoma which caused him to lose his sight completely. Even without his sight, John never lost his sense of humor, and he appreciated the time he got to spend with family and friends since he did not get to go out much.

Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing on Saturday from 10:15 am until 11:45 am at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 2130 Franklin Avenue, Morton, PA 19070. John's Funeral Mass will follow at 12 noon. The family is respectfully asking that flowers not be sent. Instead, please consider making a donation in John’s name to one or both of the following charities that provide support to veterans and their families: Home for our Troops or the Gary Sinise Foundation.

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