John Anthony Craven, Jr, husband of the late Margaret Anne Craven (nee McGovern), has died three months shy of his 90th birthday, at his home in Southbury, Conn., surrounded by family. John was born April 15, 1933, in Flushing, N.Y. He was the only child to John Anthony Craven, Sr, and Gertrude Joanna Craven (nee Horan). After his mother died during childbirth, John was quickly embraced by his extended family and was raised as a sibling alongside his cousins. John attended the prestigious Lady Cliff Academy and later Brooklyn Preparatory High School.

John enlisted in the United States Navy in 1952, and earned a National Defense Medal for his work as a Hospital Corpsman with the 3rd Marine Division in Japan during the Korean War.

The family beach bungalow in the Rockaways is where John spent his summers as a youth, and this is where he met a young lady named Margaret “Peg.” They soon became sweethearts, writing weekly letters while John served in the Navy. John and Peg were married in 1956, started a family in Bethpage, Long Island, and he joined the family business, Craven Photo Engraving. Moving to Newtown, Connecticut, in 1968, he remained a film stripper until his retirement from Swan Engraving.

In 1978, John was devastated at the loss of his soulmate, Peg, and raised their seven young children.

During his retirement, he moved to Heritage Village to pursue his interests. He was a member and shop steward in the Graphic Communications International Union (GCIU). His other interests included golfing and volunteering at Danbury Hospital and Meals on Wheels in Newtown. A lifelong, devoted Catholic, he was a passionate supporter of St Rose of Lima Church in Newtown.

Always the doting grandfather to his 11 grandchildren, he rarely missed a concert, graduation, school play, sporting event, and was always good for a push on the swing, game of cards, or trip to Friendly’s.

He is predeceased by his daughter, Suzanne Marie Craven, and grandson, Sean August DeTiberus.

He is survived by his other children, John Anthony Craven, III, and his wife, Tracy; Charles Craven; Margaret DeTiberus; Lew Craven and his wife, Vivian; Nancy Smith and her husband, Brian; and Jenine Craven; and his grandchildren, Danielle DeTiberus and her husband, Ryan; Katie Craven; Kelly Craven; Kristen Craven; Peter Smith; Megan Smith; Jack Craven; Benjamin Craven; Matthew Craven; William Craven; and Nate Craven.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 10, 2023, at 10:30 am in St Mary’s Church, 26 Dodgingtown Road, Bethel. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Newtown.

Friends may call at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown on Thursday, February 9, 2023, from 5 to 8 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Newtown Meals on Wheels, PO Box 122, Newtown CT 06470; or Ridgefield VNA at rvnahealth.org.