Juan A. Diaz Sr.

LORAIN – Juan A. Diaz Sr., age 80, of Lorain, passed aw ay Monday, October 6, 2014 at Amherst Manor Retirem en t Community following a short illness.

Born January 22, 1934 in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, he moved to New York in 1966.

In 1971 he moved to Lorain where he has lived since.

Juan served in the US Army during the Vietnam War.

Juan worked at Lorain Works US Steel for 10 years and was a member of the United Steel Workers Union Local 1104.

A former Deacon at Sacred Heart Chapel in Lorain, Juan was an active member of the church where he was a founding member of the Cursillo Movement, and a member of the Holy Name Society and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Juan enjoyed carpentry and raising roosters, chickens, pheasants and cockatoos.

He also spent time volunteering with the Lorain Board of Elections.

Surviving is his son, Juan (Lillian) Diaz Jr. of Lorain; daughters, Lydia Lopez, Gladys (Joe) Ortiz, Norma (Julio) Vazquez and Mildred (Tony) Santiago all of Lorain; 16 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; brothers, Juan Maria Diaz of Puerto Rico and Isaac Gonzalez of Youngstown; a step brother, Luis Mendez of Cleveland.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lydia, in 1997; his parents, Anicasio Diaz Lopez and Maria Francisca Gonzalez; brothers, Eugenio Diaz, Felix Diaz and Luis Diaz; and a son-in-law, Felix Lopez.

The family will receive friends on Thursday from 4:00 – 8:00 pm in the Dovin Funeral Home, 2701 Elyria Avenue, Lorain. The family will also receive friends on Friday from 10:30 am until the time of mass at 11:00 am at Sacred Heart Chapel, 4301 Pearl Avenue, Lorain. Rev. William Thaden, pastor will officiate.

Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain. The Disabled American Veterans Louis Paul Proy Chapter 20 will conduct military honors.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Crossroads Hospice and to Amherst Manor Retirement Community for Juan’s final care.

To send online condolences to the family go to www. dovinfuneralhome.