Peter J. Cracchiolo

Peter J. Cracchiolo, 98, of Grosse Pointe Shores passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Saturday, November 21, 2015. Peter was born in Detroit on September 12, 1917, one of nine children born to the late Giuseppe and Benedetta Cracchiolo. A child of the Depression, adversity challenged Peter early in life. As soon as he was able, he sought employment in order to contribute to the household. In the face of constant hardship, a lifetime's worth of character was built at an early age. Pulling a wagon loaded with vegetables for sale down a dirt road called Lakeshore Drive, Peter dreamed of one day living in a home there. With an inner drive fortified by faith in God, Peter developed a will to constantly pursue a higher purpose. Peter was called by his country and served honorably in the U.S. Army during WWII. After returning home in 1947, he once again focused on supporting the family. With a number of his siblings, Peter sold vegetables out of a truck in the suburbs. With three of his brothers, Sam, Raymond and Thomas, he co-founded a number of corporations, including Burns Automatic Corporation and Burns Cold Forged Corporation. Leveraging the combined talents of the group, they pioneered the use of cold forging techniques to manufacture large tooling and industrial parts. Within years, their success brought the attention of another growing company in the area, Masco, and the two companies eventually merged. Peter's professional achievements and business success would soon be eclipsed. At a time when he found himself blessed in so many ways, Peter dedicated himself to pay those blessings forward. What he built with his hands, his mind and his will, now gave him the ability to help others do the same. Peter dedicated his second career to serving his God, his community and fellow man. Together with his wife, he established the Peter and Constance Cracchiolo Foundation in 1984. They have been recognized for their generous gifts to organizations such as The Detroit Institute of Arts, St. John Hospital, Most Holy Trinity School, and Holy Cross Children's Services, among others. As a result of his selfless generosity, countless people's lives were touched by a man intent on giving back. Peter lived his life in plain sight of God, as he honored the Lord in his daily rosary, attendance at mass and tireless support of the metro Detroit Catholic community. A longtime resident of Grosse Pointe, his faithful service found its home at Our Lady Star of the Sea, where he was a Founding Parishioner. As a child, Peter often visited Fr. Solanus Casey, where the two prayed together and shared bread. Many decades later, Peter became a Benefactor and Cabinet Member of the Solanus Casey Foundation, completing a circle of giving started so many years ago. An active member of the community, Peter was a former President of the Eastside Lions Club. Possessing an engaging personality and a contagious smile, Peter built friendships that spanned decades and provided him great joy. Many knew him to be a dependable and unwavering friend. He was a faith-filled man, devoted to his wife and family. Raising his family was his proudest achievement of them all, and the foundation of his humility, humor and sense of self. He lived an exceptional life, believing he was doing God's work and choosing to leave the world a better place for his actions. Peter now joins his dear wife, Connie in Heaven with his Lord. He is survived by daughters, Bernadette Lindquist (Eric), Grace Cracchiolo (Anthony Torre) and Phyllis DeMars (Gregory); son, Peter T. Cracchiolo (Camille); grandchildren, Kristina Mulder (Daniel), Rebecca Gibbons, and Laura Jensen (Michael), Michael Jr. and David Tindall, and Gregory DeMars (Melissa), Sara Harrison (Michael) and Bethany Matus (Alex), and Peter T. Jr. (Leah), Matthew, Andrew (Allison) and Mark Cracchiolo; great-grandchildren, Katelynn, Allison and Thomas Mulder, Lucas and Marcus Harrison; and brothers Raymond Cracchiolo (Jane), and Thomas Cracchiolo (Carol). He was predeceased by brothers Sam and Joseph Cracchiolo and sisters Lena Testa, Phyllis Militello, Roma and Antoinette Cracchiolo. Peter's recent years were made more enjoyable as he was blessed with the love and support of caregivers Carmen Matugas, Donata Lleva and Emily Chiu. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 24 and Wednesday November 25th from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the A. H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Avenue at Vernier Road, Grosse Pointe Woods. The Holy Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening. His body will lie instate at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 467 Fairford Road at Morningside, Grosse Pointe Woods from 9:00 a.m. Friday, November 27 until mass begins at 10:00 a.m. Entombment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make donations to the Most Holy Trinity School , 1229 LaBrosse, Detroit, MI 48224; Cracchiolo Inpatient Rehabilitation Center, c/o St. John Health Foundation, 22101 Moross Road; Mack Office Building, Suite 102; Detroit, MI 48236; The Peter and Connie Cracchiolo Endowed Scholarship Fund at DeLaSalle High School , 14600 Common Road, Warren, MI 48088; or the Fr. Solanus Casey Center, 1780 Mt. Elliott, Detroit 48207.

Funeral Home:

A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe

20705 Mack Avenue

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

US 48236