James E.Destefano;active in civic and community affairs in Monessen for many years;died Wednesday night;Sept.14;1977;at 9:10 p.m.at his residence;71 Center Dr.;Monessen. He was 72. Mr.Destefano retired in November;1964;after being an employee of the Monessen Post Office for 39 years. He was born in Monessen on April 14;1905;a son of the late Frank and Marie Fair Destefano. Mr.Destefano currently had been serving as secretary of the Monessen Elks Lodge 773;a post he had held for 32 years. He was also a former member of the original Redevelopment Authority of Monessen;and was a member of the distinguished basketball teams at Monessen High School in 1923-23. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Monessen. Mr.Destefano was honored by the Monessen Elks Lodge in 1974 as a member for 47 years and lodge secretary for 29 years. He was given a Distringuished Service Award. He is survived by his widow;Jessie McAlpine Destefano;one son;James T.Destefano of Oakmont;three grandsons;Thomas Destefano;a student at Grove City College;Robert and Danile Destefano of Oakmont;two sisters;Mrs.Rose Laneve of Newell;W.Va. and Mrs.Margaret Caterino of Monessen and one brother;John Destefano of Upper St.Clair. Friends will be received at the Rhome Funeral Home Inc.;1209 Grand Blvd.;Monessen from 7 to 9 p.m.Thursday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.Friday. Services will be held in the chapel of the funeral home on Saturday at 11 a.m.with the Rev.Fred Doscher;pastor of First Presbyterian Church;Monessen;officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Elks services will be conducted at the funeral home on Friday at 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society;Monessen Public Library of Monessen Ambulance Service through the funeral home. Rhome funeral directors in charge.