Submitted by: Dan Rich

Peter G. Rucano

Nov. 4, 1920 - Jan. 18, 1999

South Bend Tribune 1/19/1999

SOUTH BEND - Mr. Peter G. Rucano, 78, of East Madison Street, passed away following an illness on Monday, Jan. 18, in Memorial Hospital. He was born on Nov. 4, 1920, in Placonica, Reggie Calabria, Italy, to the late Pasquale and Angeline (Nesci) Rucano. He was preceded in death by his parents; and by two brothers, Patrick and Eugene.

He came to America in January 1923. Having lived most of his life in the South Bend area, he moved back here from Texas in 1988. He retired in 1988 after forty years as an accountant in charge of the logistics department for the Associates Corporation of North America.

He is survived by his sister, Rose (Mica) VanDeWalle of South Bend; two brothers, John J. (Louise) of South Bend and Richard J. (Rita) of Mishawaka, Ind.; and by his devoted caregiver, Barbara Schermerhorn of South Bend, Ind.

He was a 1948 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and was a member of the Alumni Association, the American Association of Retired Persons, and the Knights of Columbus for 56 years. He was raised by The Poor Hand Maids of Jesus Christ at St. Vincent Villa Orphanage in Fort Wayne, Ind. He leaves many friends in Texas with Associates and in South Bend. He was everyone's friend and had no enemies. When he was young baby he had polio and God gave him character, friendship, personality and enthusiasm to compensate for it. We all loved him very much.

Services will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday in Corpus Christi Catholic Church, and burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.

Friends may call from 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the McGann Funeral Homes, Council Oak Gardens Chapel, 21275 W. Cleveland Road, South Bend, where there will be a combined Rosary at 4:30 p.m., prayed by the parish and the Knights of Columbus, Archbishop John Carroll Council #5570, both of which he was a member.

Memorials may be made to Gibault School for Boys, c/o K of C #5570, 5202 Linden Avenue, South Bend, IN 46619.