James S. Marchetti

James S. Marchetti, 81, of Drums passed away early Saturday morning, February 1, 2025, at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Hazleton following a nine month illness.

Born in Drums, October 27, 1943, he was the son of the late Joseph and Ceserina (Piazzi) Marchetti and spent the past 54 years in Drums, after moving from Sugarloaf.

James was employed as an Assembler for All Steel, Valmont. He was a US Army veteran during the Vietnam Conflict having served from 1967 to 1969. He was a member of St. John Bosco RC Church, Sugarloaf. He was also a member of VFW Post 8161, Conyngham.  James was like MacGyver; he always had a roll of duct tape, and no project was too big to take on.  He enjoyed fishing and hunting with his brothers and was very proud of his ten-point buck. 

James was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, who enjoyed bowling with his wife at Valley Lanes across from Sadocks Garment Factory where they worked and first met.  They were married on May 2, 1970, and at that time they were one of six couples that shared the same birth date.  James loved watching his grandson Adam play baseball, playing dinosaurs with his grandson Ashton and letting them both make up their own rules to board games.  He was a dedicated NASCAR fan, and a faithful Dodgers, Rams and Lakers fan, and will always be remembered for his infamous naps. 

He was preceded in death, in addition to his parents, by his loving wife and soulmate, the former Barbara Wright who passed away October 4, 2024; six brothers, Joseph, Richard, Raymond, Frank, Edward, and Ferdinand Marchetti; and five sisters, Anna, Helen and Agnes Marchetti, Rita Katilas and Angeline Agnes Beishline. 

Surviving are two children, Cathryn DeFazio and her husband Philip, Drums; and Stephen Marchetti and his fiancée Sara Miglas, Sugarloaf; mother-in-law, Cleo (Kemper) Wright, Drums; two grandsons, Adam and Ashton Marchetti, Sugarloaf; three sisters, Marie Shultz; Dorothy Potkey and Lucille Zumar, a brother, Robert Marchetti and his wife Betty Ann, all of Drums; and numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

His funeral will be held Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 9:30 AM from Harman Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc. (East), 669 W. Butler Drive, Drums followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 AM in Saint John Bosco RC Church, 573 PA 93, Sugarloaf.  Burial will follow in Red Rock Cemetery, Sugarloaf.  Friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 6 PM- 8 PM.

Memorial donations may be made to Victory House of Lehigh Valley, 314 Fillmore St., Bethlehem, PA 18015 or to Orangeville Manor Personal, 210 Mill St., Orangeville, PA 17859 or to the Wounded Warrior Project online at www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org. Online condolences can be entered, and more information is available at www.harmanfuneral.com.

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