Raymond DiCrescenzo, 94, of New Hope, PA, died on Wednesday, September 17, 2014, surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Lambertville, NJ, Ray was a lifelong resident of the Lambertville-New Hope area. He attended Lambertville Public School and High School. Ray was called to service in World War 2 just 2 months after he and his new bride, Adele, were married. The newlyweds spent the next 4 years apart while Ray served his country. He was a staff sergeant in the US Army in Northern Africa and Italy. Upon his return, he joined his father, Nichola, and his brothers, Anthony and Elmer, as a butcher at their family owned store in Lambertville. He later became the store’s sole owner. In 1980, Ray opened the Delray Thriftway Supermarket in New Hope and was joined in the business by his sons-in-law, Bob Seminack and Micky Flood. Ray was a constant presence at the market, attended to every detail of customer service and was always the first person to greet shoppers as they entered the store. A friendly chat with Ray was always a part of the Delray shoppers’ experience.
He retired in 1999 and made the most of his newfound free time. He traveled the world with his beloved wife, Adele. He was an avid Philadelphia sports fan and attended every Phillies and Eagles home game for the past decade. On February 14, 2012 The Phillies honored Ray’s dedication when general manager, Ruben Amaro, Jr., and the Phillie Phanatic personally delivered Ray’s season tickets to his home. This served as an added bonus to an already special day, as Valentine’s Day is also Adele’s birthday. He also enjoyed frequent trips to Atlantic City.
A member of the American Legion Toscani Post and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, both in Lambertville, Ray was honored as the grand marshal of the 2013 Veterans’ Day Parade in Yardley and the 2011 Memorial Day Parade in Lambertville. He was a member of St. Martin of Tours Church in New Hope. Ray and Adele supported many community activities and charities including the Eagle Fire Company in New Hope, the Lambertville-New Hope Rescue Squad and the construction of Veterans Memorial Park in Lambertville. He was named New Hope’s Man of the Year.

Ray is survived by his beloved wife of 72 years, Adele R. D’Ambrosio DiCrescenzo; his beloved daughters and their husbands Janis and Robert Seminack and Eileen J. and Micky Flood, all of New Hope; his grandchildren Karin McLaughlin and her husband Daniel of Yardley, PA, and Chad Flood and his wife Carrie of Chalfont, PA; his three great-granddaughters Madeline, Sarah and Claire McLaughlin of Yardley; and his many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Nichola and Clara DiCrescenzo; his sisters Lillian Deni and Flora Gaynor and his brothers Anthony and Elmer DiCrescenzo.
The funeral mass will be offered on Monday, September 22, at 11 am at St. Martin of Tours Church, 1 Riverstone Circle, New Hope, PA 18938. Committal services will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, Feasterville, PA.
Calling hours at the church on Monday morning from 9:30 am until the start of mass.
IN lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Eagle Fire Company, PO Box 314, New Hope, PA 18938 or to the Lambertville-New Hope Rescue Squad, PO Box 237, Lambertville, NJ 08530.
Arrangements are by the Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, 21 York Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530 (condolences can be sent to VHMFH.com).

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