Matthew "John" Masuccio

Born and raised in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, he was a devoted son to Italian immigrant parents, Matthew and Mary Masucci. He grew up in a family of seven with four sisters: Nancy Neptune (George), Leona Dickson (Robert), Mary Ann Eades (Lee), and Elaine Greene (John). He is preceded in death by both of his parents and sister, Leona Dickson.

John joined the United States Marine Corps in 1958, and he proudly served his country for four years. It was while on leave from the Marine Corps that he met his future wife of almost 45 years. Pauline Hillen, a friend of his youngest sister, had been renting a room in his parents’ new home in Indianapolis, Indiana. On his first visit to his parents’ new home, Pauline greeted him at the door. After establishing he was not at the wrong house, it didn’t take very long for him to realize that he had just met the love of his life! John and Pauline later married on December 6, 1962.

John and Pauline truly completed each other as husband and wife. Their first-born, Steven Matthew, was born in October of 1963. A year later, they welcomed a lovely daughter, Julie Elizabeth, in November of 1964. They had a wonderful love for one another, and they chose to raise their family in Indianapolis, Indiana.

John was best known for his interest and skill in analyzing the intricacies of mechanics and building things. This interest traces back to his childhood. As a young boy, he and his friends built bicycles in a neighbor’s garage. John recalled one of his favorite days at age 12 was when he found an old carburetor along the road. He enjoyed taking it apart and rebuilding it many times. As a teenager, he joined the high school auto club and worked part-time at his cousin Ralph’s gas station in Pennsylvania, just to be around cars.

After completing his service with the Marine Corps, John’s career included ten years with the New York Railroad in Beech Grove, Indiana and over thirty years with Ford Motor Company. His ten years with New York Railroad involved rebuilding the interior of coach cars, with a focus on upholstering and fine woodwork trim. With many automotive industry job openings in the early 1970’s, John chose to begin a long career with Ford Motor Company in the area of Quality Control. At the company’s Power Steering Assembly Plant in Indianapolis, John took pride in fixing machines and parts and being a “go-to” person to analyze and solve complexities in Quality Control.

His favorite hobbies also included working on mechanical machines. He loved working on cars, motorcycles, tractors, lawnmowers, appliances, and anything mechanical! He would often joke that anyone could buy a part to fix a car. His passion was to correct a defect by making and/or repairing a part.

His greatest accomplishment was being a wonderful husband, father, and grandpa, who always led by example. With five grandsons and one granddaughter, he loved to have bikes, mini-bikes, go carts, electric jeeps, and other toys at his house. His greatest joy was his family. Throughout his marriage to Pauline, they loved having family and friends over for big pasta dinners and celebrating during special holidays. He is survived by his son, Steven Matthew Masuccio (Tamara), his daughter Julie Elizabeth Cheatham (Timothy), and his six grandchildren: Olivia Cheatham, Jacob Cheatham, Nicholas Masuccio, Peyton Cheatham, Emerson Masuccio, and Andrew Masuccio. He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Pauline (Hillen) Masuccio.

Many family and friends will miss him. However, we are comforted by the fact that his faith in God reunites him with his beautiful wife, Pauline, and other loved ones. John was sad to be leaving his children and grandchildren, but he was ready and at peace with being reunited with other loving family.

His life was lived as a good man, a proud U.S. Citizen and member of the United States Marine Corps, a loving son, a loving husband, and a loving father and grandfather. He always believed in the Marine Corps Creed: Semper Fidelis (a Latin phrase for “Always Faithful”).

His church services will be provided by Southport Church of the Nazarene and Crossway Church of the Nazarene. Calling time will be held on Thursday, October 29, 2015 at Little and Sons Funeral Home at 4901 E. Stop 11 Road Indianapolis, IN 46227. Family calling hours: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Calling hours for both family and friends: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm. A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 30 at Little and Sons Funeral Home. A final viewing will be held 10:00 am - 11:00 am. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 am. Following the funeral service, a short graveside service will be held at Greenwood Cemetery. Following all services, family and friends are welcome to gather for lunch at Southport Church of the Nazarene at 920 E. Southport Road Indianapolis, IN 46227.