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Paul J. "Mr. C" Cristini, 90, of Montoursville, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, at the Heritage Springs Memory Care Facility in Montoursville. He was born Jan. 27, 1936 in Williamsport, to Gregory and Rosa (Poretta) Cristini.
He was married to the late former Marilyn R. Fry from 1959 to 1972.
He was a 1955 graduate of Williamsport High School. Paul was a dedicated employee of Weis Markets, where he worked for 45 years. He also served his country as a private in the U.S. Army as part of the Ready Reserve Program from 1959 to 1964.
Deeply involved in local sports, Paul coached the Montoursville High School baseball team for 18 years and the Penn College baseball team for two years. He was a member of the American Legion Post 106 in Montoursville.
Throughout his life, Paul remained highly active in the community, mentoring underprivileged youth and many individuals battling substance abuse.
He loved coaching baseball, teaching others to cook, making and sharing his signature canned peppers and cooking spaghetti dinners for the Montoursville High School baseball team fundraisers.
Paul was affectionately known as "Pop-Pop" to his grandchildren, whom he loved dearly. He cherished spending quality time with them, took immense pride in their academic and athletic accomplishments and joyfully watched them grow into successful young adults who were well-trained to cook a proper Italian meal using his recipes.
His entire family holds fond memories of great conversations filled with life stories, plenty of laughter, his common-sense approach to life and his trademark touch of sarcastic humor.
He is survived by his son, Dan Cristini, of Montoursville; his daughter, Nicole (Kevin) Durrwachter, of Augusta, Ga.; his grandchildren, Jason (Maria) Cristini, of New Kent, Va., Cody (Donna) Durrwachter, of Marietta, Ga., Maria (Parker) Owens, of Douglasville, Ga., and Dalton (Jessica) Cristini, of Westerville, Ohio; and his great-grandchildren, Evelyn and Sophia Durrwachter, Amelia and Luca Cristini, and Layla Cristini.
He was preceded in death by his son, Gary G. Cristini; brothers, Freddie, Gregory, Joseph, Jack Cristini; and sister Marguerite Vittorio; and his father and mother, Gregory and Rosa Cristini.
The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to all of Paul's friends, especially Wes Persun, Lindsey Hammond, Heritage Springs Memory Care, and UPMC Hospice care providers for their support and compassion.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, at McCarty-Thomas Funeral Home, 733 Broad Street, Montoursville. Burial will follow at Montoursville Cemetery. Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
The family will provide the flowers and suggest memorial contributions to Montoursville High School Baseball Program, 700 Mulberry St., Montoursville, PA 17754, Attn. Danielle Gephart, or . Eugene Grafius American Legion Post 104, Montoursville, Pa.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at mccartythomas.com.