The late Albert “Albie” Coccio served as a sexton at First United Methodist Church in Tamaqua for more than 50 years.

“He was there every morning at church,” said his widow, Roberta “Bobbie” Coccio. “He had certain jobs that he did on certain days.”

Albie, who passed away March 16, also volunteered in other capacities at the church for decades, Bobbie said.

And so to remember him, the church will dedicate a plaque during its 11:15 a.m. June 25 service.

“They asked if they should do it before or after the sermon,” said Bobbie, who is the church’s organist.

She asked that it be held afterward because she knows she will become emotional.

“If they hold it before, I won’t be able to read the music,” Bobbie said.

The couple’s children will be on hand, as well as others who knew Albie, 85.

“He was a worker. He never sat still,” Bobbie said.

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served during the Korean War, he worked for a time at Commonwealth Container in Macungie, then began what would become a 35-year career with the Borough of Tamaqua.

Bobbie said her husband had a lot of side jobs, including tending to yards, roofing and other chores.

“Before he got sick, he was all over working. He also took care of this house and the yard - he just never sat still,” Bobbie said.

She remembered how Albie and the church’s former pastor, Rodney Miller, worked endlessly to rid the church basement of water following flooding several years ago. It was Miller and his wife, Eileen, now living in North Carolina, who got the wheels in motion for the plaque.

“He and Albie were such good friends,” Bobbie said.

She said that Albie conquered colorectal cancer in 2007, and beat pancreatic cancer in 2017.

According to his obituary, “If you saw him early in the morning his reply was always, ‘It’s a Great Day,’ before heading home to breakfast by Bobbie.”