Thomas J. Forese of Kennett Square

Thomas J. Forese, 84, of Kennett Square, formerly of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, passed away on February 7, 2017 from complications sustained after suffering a massive stroke.

Tom was born on January 27, 1933 and was the son of the late Samuel and Edith (Mastrangelo) Forese. He graduated from S. Horace Scott High School in 1950 and was a lifelong area resident. He earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master’s degree in Marketing from Temple University. On June 25, 1955, he married the love of his life, Rose Mariano.

He was the owner-operator of Sam’s Food Market in Coatesville for more than 30 years before opening Fluff and Fold Laundromat in the same location, which he owned and operated for the next 26 years. He also worked as a member of the community health services team at Main Line Health in Bryn Mawr.

Tom was a member of the Knights of Columbus where he achieved the ranking of 4th Degree. He was also an active member of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

Tom is survived by his loving wife, Rose; four daughters, Sue Ann Lienhard and her husband Jerome, Lisa Hess, Maria Steffy and her husband Curt, and Bernadette Gialloreto and her husband Greg. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Alexandra (Lienhard) Briglia, Colin and Meaghdlin Lienhard, Julie and Michael Hess, Carissa, Lynsey and Scott Steffy, and Maura and Paul Gay, and Tom’s brothers John Forese and James Forese.

Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Harris-Mountain Funeral & Cremation Service, 1030 E. Lincoln Highway, Coatesville on Wednesday, February 15 from 6 pm to 8 pm and on Thursday, February 16 from 9 am to 10 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am on Thursday, February 16, at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 80 S 17th Avenue in Coatesville. A private interment will follow at St. Cecilia Cemetery, Coatesville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105,https://www.stjude.org.

Tom always said that he wanted his services to be a celebration of his life and not a mourning of his passing. For that reason, the family requests that bright colors be worn to his services where we will celebrate a long life that was filled with family, friends, love and laughter.

On-line condolences may be made by visiting www. harrismountain.com.