10/21/2024

John P. Nolan

Nolan-Fidale Funeral Home - Funeral Director/Owner

John P. Nolan, age 89, owner and founder of Nolan-Fidale Funeral Home passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2024. J.P. was born and raised in Chester, PA. He attended Archmere Academy, Claymont, DE and graduated from the Peddie School, Hightstown, NJ. Jay was known to be very athletic playing basketball, baseball and was an all state athlete in track and field in the state of NJ. After high school Jay went on and graduated from the Pennsylvania Military College, of Chester, PA. He then obtained his degree in mortuary science at the Eckels School of Mortuary Science, in Philadelphia, PA and served his country proudly as a member of the US Army. Soon after, Jay was employed at Gawlers Funeral Home in Washington, DC, who handles most government officials funerals, prior to returning to the Philadelphia area to work at the Oliver H. Bair Funeral Home in Philadelphia, PA and then the Nacrelli Funeral Home in Chester, PA. He then turned his childhood home into his own funeral home in Chester, PA, founding the John P. Nolan Funeral Home in 1965. Years later, he partnered with his long-time friend, Frank J. Fidale, and the Nolan-Fidale Funeral Home was created. Jay enjoyed watching the Eagles and the Phillies and most of all enjoyed spending time with his family down the shore at his summer home in Ocean City, NJ. Jay was known to walk a full beach block on his hands and loved to entertain with his first wife Elaine. He and Elaine threw memorable parties for their friends and colleagues. Jay was an avid story teller and had a creative nickname for everyone he met. He loved raising his four girls and enjoyed hearing the high school gossip after the weekend Archmere parties. He was a life long parishioner of St. Robert's in Chester, PA which was built on land donated from the Nolan family.

He is the son of the late Dr. John P. and Helen (Hamilton) Nolan, husband to the late Elaine (Daley) Nolan, longtime companion of 25 years to the late Mary "Nancy" (Damico) Soscia, and brother to the late Patricia Seward (William) and Mary Louise Andrea (Frank), and grandfather to the late John "JP" Carey.

Survivors: His loving daughters: Jennifer Sieder (Steve), Jill Collins (Michael), Andrea Nolan (Ronald), and Amy Peck (Mark), grandchildren: Ashley Dyjak (Luke), Adam, Julia and Nolan Collins, Sarah Bohenek, Elayna and Patrick Peck, and Paige Carey and Jenna Sieder and 3 great grandchildren.

Visitation: Wednesday, May 22, 2024 from 9:30am -11:15am at Nolan-Fidale Funeral Home, 5980 Chichester Ave. Aston, PA 19014. Funeral Service: Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 11:30am at Nolan-Fidale Funeral Home. Burial: Private. In Lieu of flowers donations can be made in Jay's name to the St. Martha's Center at 470 Manor Ave, Downingtown, PA 19335 with the memo "John Nolan Donations".
Condolences: www.nolanfidale.com