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Obituary

Chester "Chet" Croce Jr., was born March 26, 1930 in Columbus, Ohio. He passed away peacefully at home on Friday, November 29, 2024. Chet was an original member and graduate of The Columbus Boychoir which became the American Boychoir when it moved to Princeton, NJ; and a 1948 graduate of Linden McKinley High School. He served in the United States Army and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and was a cartographer stationed in France during the Korean conflict. He received his architectural degree from The Ohio State University and was registered with the State of Ohio. He was a member of Alpha Phi Delta Fraternity, St. Matthias Catholic Church, American Institute of Architects, American Italian Golf Association, Maize Meadows Tri Area Civic Association and the Benign Essential Blepharospasm Association. Chet designed many buildings in the Columbus area including the Villa Milano Party House; Ruscilli Construction Co. office; the John Quint Treboni Funeral Home; Medex Inc. (office & plant); the Systems Engineering building and an on-air addition to the Journalism building at OSU; several fire stations for the City of Columbus; the original Tansky Toyota; and the Aladdin Temple. He remodeled St. Matthias Catholic Church and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and also designed their Cultural Art Center and steeple. Along with his father, Chet Sr., Chet worked on the designs of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, St. Agnes Catholic Church, St. James the Less Catholic Church rectory, Bishop Watterson High School and St. Francis DeSales High School. He made revisions to several Columbus Zoo buildings to make them handicap accessible. Many unique residential designs for clients rounded out his resume. Chet enjoyed Italian food and had to have his ciabatta bread from Auddino's bakery, singing- especially while his wife played the piano- and he passed that love to his children and grandchildren. In his later years, favorite pastimes included watching bocce games at Giammarco's Restaurant while his relatives played and often won, working puzzles, and watching his Buckeyes play football while his lucky buckeye sat on the TV. But his real love, especially in his later years, was woodworking, making little boxes, tables and stools. He traveled to many states over the years as a support to his wife's official capacity as a Benign Essential Blepharospasm representative. He would tell stories to anyone who would listen about how he met his wife, Anita, his years in school, and his time in the military. He was able in 2023 to ride in the Veteran's parade in Delaware, Ohio which he thoroughly enjoyed. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 71 years, Anita Croce; parents, Chester and Ermida (DiPietro) Croce; In-laws, Thomasine (Dominick) Catena, Carolyn (Michael) Melfi, Mary (Nick) Benedetto and Vincent (Helen) Gill. Chet is survived by his loving children, Cynthia (Russell) Smith, Sandra (Michael) Warner, and Chester Croce III; grandchildren, Alycia (Andrew) Baker, Lindsey (Matthew) McCaw, April (Spencer) Wolverton, Nolan (Leah) Croce, Alia and Chester Conner Croce IV; great-grandchildren, Judah Baker, Hadassah Baker, and Remington McCaw; step grandchildren, Jeffrey (Kari) Smith, Christopher (Ronda) Smith; step great-grandchildren, Tyler (Shruthi) Smith, Abigail Smith, Lydia Smith and Canaan (Melissa) Smith; brothers, Robert (Alice) Croce and William (Marilyn) Croce; sister, Bonita (Edward) Spiers and by many other cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Chet's aids from Griswold Home Care and also to all the support from Luminary Hospice. A visitation will be held at the John Quint Treboni Funeral Home, 1177 W 5th Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43212 on Wednesday, Dec 4, 2024 from 4-7 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, Dec 5, 2024 at St. James the Less Church, 1652 Oakland Park Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43224 at 11 am with a procession following to St. Joseph Cemetery 6440 S. High Street Lockbourne, Ohio 43137