Notes:

James V. Rhoney, of Niagara Falls, NY, passed away on Wednesday, July 1, 2015, at his home under the care of his family and Niagara Hospice.
He was born in Niagara Falls, NY, on July 3, 1927, the son of the late D. Vincent and Gertrude [Braas] Rhoney.

Jim graduated from Sacred Heart grade school and St. Mary's High School.
He served in the US Marine Corp during World War II with the 2nd Marine Division, the first group of troops to enter Nagasaki, after the second Atomic Bomb was dropped.

After returning from the war, he attended McAllister School of Funeral Directing, graduating in 1948 and received his funeral directing license later that year. He was the President of the Rhoney Funeral Home from 1951, until his retirement in 2001. During his over 50 years in funeral service, he built the first building to be used as a funeral home and expanded the business to Sanborn with the purchase of Pike and Jones and later to Lewiston, NY.

Jim was an active member of the Niagara Falls area, being a founding, charter, board member and president of many social, professional, religious and civic organizations over the years. He also served as Chairman of many programs.

Aside from his professional life, Jim started a new career in the 1950's, as he began spending his vacation with his family traveling throughout the United States with the American Circus. As the years went by his time on the road increased. He traveled with the biggest and smaller shows in his career and worked with the biggest stars in the industry, becoming personal friends with many of them.

He and his wife Angie started working with elephants and retired in 2003 in management. He was a lay minister with the 1st Ministry for show people on the move. Jim wrote many articles for Circus Report, a magazine dedicated to the latest circus news.

Besides funeral service and his love for the circus, he was on the last successful raft ride through the rapids during the 1980's.

He is survived by his wife Angeline [DiNardo] Rhoney, they celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on December 29, 2001, one son Daniel J. Rhoney, three daughters Mary Elizabeth (Thomas) Weber, Teresa (Samuel) LaNasa and Catherine E. (Donald) Fending, nine grandchildren Jacqueline and Jeffrey LaNasa, Danielle Rhoney, Donald "Trey", Colleen and Philip Fending, Sarah, Michelle and Trudy Weber, two brothers Paul J. (Patricia) Rhoney, Michael D. (Cynthia) Rhoney, two sisters Sr. Colette Rhoney, OSF and Mary Alice (William) Wonsiewsk, one sister in law Carol Rhoney, also many nieces and nephews.
Jim was the father of the late Vincent Rhoney, brother of the late Vincent M. Rhoney and father in law of the late Traci Rhoney.

The family will be present on Monday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the RHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 901 Cayuga Street, LEWISTON, NY, where funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 10:00 AM, with Msgr. Thomas J. Moran officiating.

Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made in his name to Heart, Love and Soul, 939 Ontario Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY 14305.

Interment with Military Honors in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lewiston, NY.

James married DINARDO, Angeline on 29 Dec 1951. Angeline (daughter of DINARDO, NIcholas and DIVINCENZO, Mary) was born on 11 Feb 1926 in Hornell, Steuben County, NY; died on 27 Oct 2017 in Town of Amherst, Erie County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: WEBER, Thomas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: LANASA, Samuel. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: FENDING, Donald J Jr. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]