John J Ahern

John J. Ahern, 91, of Cresco, PA died Monday, March 22, 2021 with his family by his side at the home of his granddaughter. He was born in Brooklyn, NY to the late John P. Ahern and Mary Ahern and moved to Staten Island at the age of nine. 

John attended Saint Peters High School and went on to enlist in the 82nd Airborne Division of the Army. After the Army John met his wife Karen L. Anderson. The two married in 1954 and lived lives full of family and friendship on Staten Island, where John worked in Consumer Production at Proctor and Gamble until his retirement. John was a member of the Sailors Smug Harbor Art Association where he won many awards; his main theme being tugboats, the New York harbor, landscapes and wildlife. 

After Karen‘s death in 1993, John moved to the Poconos where he continued to create a meaningful life for himself. John had many hobbies that include writing short stories, hiking, photography, playing the guitar, gardening and horticulture.

At 6’2 and 200lbs, John, Aka Big John, was known for his strapping physique and athleticism. As a young man John was an amateur boxer and later in his life he took up ballroom dancing where he enjoyed many styles of dance including the foxtrot, quickstep, and rumba.

John prided himself on his health and his ability to recommend nutritional and wellness advice to his friends and neighbors. John also gifted organic produce straight from his garden to his community and was known for planting flowers for friends at their homes. 

John loved the changing seasons of the North East, particularly winter. In his 80’s John worked at Jack Frost Ski Resort as a ski lift operator and even took a few ice-cold plunges in freezing lakes as a member of the Polar Bear Club. 

John was a volunteer at Monroe County hospice where he continued to share his great gift of storytelling and making others feel comfortable in his presence. 

John is survived by his daughter, Kari Birmingham and husband, Gary, granddaughters, Megan Ahern, Bonnie Molina, Juli Birmingham and great granddaughter, Maya Rose Newman, who shared many silly moments with him at the end of his life.  John is also survived by his sister, Genevieve Salvage and brother, Peter Ahern and his wife, Kathy. Uncle John also had special bonds with many of his beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members. 

John was preceded in death by his son, John J. Ahern, sister, Barbara King, grandson, James John Birmingham, and nephew, Thomas Mitchell. 

FUNERAL NOTICE

John Ahern, 91 of Cresco, PA – A graveside service will take place for the family at Pocono Lake Cemetery and plans for a celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contribution can be made to one of the following organizations, The National Suicide Prevention, lifeline.org in memory of all those who suffered in silence, or Honor the Earth as John had a deep reverence for Indigenous Americans, their stories and land, Honor the Earth, honorearth.org PO Box 63, Callaway, MN 56521. Arrangements are in care of C. J. Lucas Funeral Home Inc., 27 N. Vine Street, Mt. Carmel, PA 17851, C. J. Lucas IV, Supervisor. To send condolences to the family please visit www.cjlucasfuneralhome.com

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