The obituary, shown below, was originally published in the May 17, 2005
issue of
The Daily Local News (West Chester, PA).
Eugene J. DiFilippo, Jr. of Toughkenamon
Retired Judge Eugene Joseph DiFilippo, Jr., 81, of Toughkenamon, passed away on Friday, May 13, 2005, at Jennersville Regional Hospital in Jennersville.
He was the husband of Glenna "Granny" Wallace DiFilippo with whom he shared 61 years of marriage.
Born in West Chester, he was the son of the late Eugene Joseph DiFilippo Sr. and the late Mary DeCecco Difilippo.
He graduated from the Kennett Consolidated School in 1942. He became a butcher after attending Armour Meat Co.'s
National School of Meat Cutting in Chicago (the butcher school) and Toledo, Ohio (the retail school) in 1943.
He worked as a butcher and grocer at the legendary DiFilippo's General Store, a family business he took over from his father,
for more than 50 years.
Known as "Pop" to his family and "Judge" to friends, DiFilippo was a fixture in the politics and business of
Toughkenamon and Chester County for more than six decades.
In 1950, he was elected justice of the peace in Toughkenamon, a position he held for 20 years.
In 1970, he won the post of District Court Judge in New Garden Township. He held that seat until 1986, presiding over
criminal matters small and large. His most memorable case came in the late 1970s, when he ordered the infamous Johnston
brothers held for trial after the trio's theft and burglary spree culminated in the murders of six people
they suspected might snitch on them.
He was a proud, longtime member of the American Judges Association and the Knights of Columbus.
Pop enjoyed watching sports and movies, bowling, golfing, crabbing and Tucker cars.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, James Frederick DiFilippo and his wife, Judith, of Aston, and Eugene
Joseph DiFilippo III and his wife, Debra, of Kennett Square; a daughter, Linda Eugenia Martin of
Bellevue, Ky; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, William L. DiFilippo.
Family and friends are invited to attend the Judge's life celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, at the Kuzo & Gofus
Funeral Home Ltd. "A Life Celebration Home," 250 W. State St., Kennett Square, and again from 10 to 11 a.m. on
Wednesday, May 18, at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 300 State Road, West Grove.
His funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m.
Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Kennett Square.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association, in honor of Glenna DiFilippo, at
Alzheimer's Association, 225 Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633.