John William DeStefano - Charlotte, N.C.

He was born Nov. 12, 1938, in Providence. He graduated from West Senior High School in Pawtucket in 1956. He entered active duty in the Marine Corps in 1956, served two years active duty and was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps Reserves as a corporal (E-3) in 1962. He graduated from Roger Williams College in Providence with a Bachelor of Science degree in retail management in 1966. In 1964 he moved to Charlotte, N.C., and immediately joined The Italian Club in Charlotte. Later, the club sub-divided into two clubs and he continued his involvement in the Italian community in Charlotte through his membership in The Italian Heritage Society. For 45 years Mr. DeStefano enjoyed his participation with this group. In 1966 he joined The Cato Corporation, a chain of women’s apparel stores headquartered in Charlotte. For 23 years, through 1989, he was an associate of Cato, ultimately becoming executive vice president, chief stores operations officer. For 30 years, since 1978, he was a member of the Carmel Country Club. On May 25, 1985, Mr. DeStefano married Catherine Cato. For 24 years they were blessed with a happy marriage. In retirement he enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing and traveling.

Mr. DeStefano leaves his wife, Catherine Cato DeStefano of Charlotte; his son, John “Butch” DeStefano, his wife Shari DeStefano and their two children, John Thomas DeStefano and Nicole Leigh DeStefano, all of Huntersville, N.C.; his son, David DeStefano, his wife Sarah DeStefano and his child, Christina Marie DeStefano, all of Raleigh, N.C.; his son, Richard “Rick” DeStefano, his wife Renita DeStefano and their two children, Kolby Lee DeStefano and Mychal Leighton DeStefano, all of Charlotte; the mother of his three children, Joyce Allen DeStefano of Charlotte; and his sister, Diane DeStefano Hughes and her husband Joseph Hughes, both of Lincoln, R.I. Mr. DeStefano was the son of the late John DeStefano and Adeline “Lena” Desiderato DeStefano, both of Pawtucket.

The funeral service will be held at Harry and Bryant Chapel, 500 Providence Road, Charlotte, N.C., 28207, Monday, Oct. 26 at 3:30 p.m., followed by a reception at the residence, 5100 Green Rea Road, Charlotte, N.C., 28226. Honorary pall bearers are Tom Tini, Bob Bickle, Joseph Hughes, Butch DeStefano, David DeStefano and Rick DeStefano. A private interment will be held Tuesday, Oct. 27, in Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston, S.C.

Memorials may be made to The Italian Heritage Society, c/o S. Borrelli, 9236 Whistling Straits Drive, Indian Land, SC 29707, designation “scholarship and in memory of John DeStefano;” National Wildlife Federation Headquarters, North East Regional Office, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190-5362, attention: Stephanie Parsons, designation “in memory of John DeStefano;” and Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904, designation “in memory of John DeStefano.”

Harry and Bryant is serving the family.