By Staff
Hugh W. Pacella (1st Lieut., U.S. Army )passed away on Saturday, May 8th, 2010 at his home in Chocowinity, NC. Hugh was born in Youngstown, OH on February 8, 1918 to the late Nunzio and Antoinetta Pacella.
Visitation will be at Hillside Funeral Service on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 from 6:30 until 8:00PM. There will be a prayer at the conclusion of visitation. Burial will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Hugh joined the Army in January of 1942 and was a decorated World War II veteran, to include a Purple Heart for wounds he received in France in 1944. Upon his return from the war, Hugh founded the Washington Florist Exchange in Washington, D.C. He also served as President of the Allied Florists Association of Greater Washington from 1962-1963. He presided over the Grand Opening of the Greater Washington Flower show and had the honor of escorting First Lady Mrs. Lyndon Johnson to cut the ribbon. Hugh presised over the Washington Flower Exchange as President until his retirement in 1996.
Hugh spent the majority of his life in Alexandria, VA and moved to Cypress Landing in Chocowinity, NC in 2006.
He is survived by his devoted daughter-in-law, Paula Pacella, loving grandchildren, Kathy Petrak (Chris) of Plainfield, IL and William Pacella of Durham, NC. He will be fondly remembered as Great Pop Pop by his three great grandchildren, Madeline, Emma, and Lilly Petrak, all of Plainfield, IL.
He is also survived by two nieces, Nina Carroll (Bruce) Gilmore of Alexandria, VA and Mary Margaret (Jim) Guatney of Snellville, GA; several great nieces and great nephews.
Hugh was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Elaine Madelyn (Thompson) Pacella, one son, Hugh W. Pacella II, brother, Humbert Pacella, and sisters, Mary Teresi, Margaret, Lyla, and Helen Pacella.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Hugh and Elaine’s memory to the Community Home Care &Hospice, 814 Washington Plaza, Washington, NC, 27889 or to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 811 W. Evergreen St., Suite 303, Chicago, IL, 60642, in memory of their son.
You may share a memory with the family by visiting www.hillsidefuneralservice.com
Hillside Funeral Service of Washington is serving the Pacella family.
Paid Obituary