The Koch Chatley Gaeto Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc.
is under new management and ownership as of Monday, with the former
owner Vince Gaeto finalizing the sale to Bradford native Michael
Mascho.

Mascho, born and raised in the area, has been working with Gaeto
since Feb. 29 on a gradual turnover and orientation in lieu of
Gaeto’s retirement. With the official turnover Monday, Mascho
assumes the position of funeral director, supervisor and owner of
the Koch Chatley Gaeto Funeral Home.

“It will be business as usual,” said Mascho. “No immediate
changes will be made to business … I will also be assuming all
pre-arrangements that have been made prior to the change.”

Mascho, along with his wife Olivia, were raised in Bradford,
both graduating from Bradford High School. Mascho, after attending
the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, furthered his education
at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in January 1998.
While in attendance, he worked at a funeral home in Pittsburgh.
Upon graduation in September of 1999, Mascho returned to the area,
working through an internship at the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral
Homes, where he assumed a position until May of 2006.

He then moved to Shippensburg, where he worked with the
Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home until February, when he started at
Koch Chatley Gaeto Funeral Home.

“We would like to keep a friendly atmosphere,” Mascho said.
“Minor improvements will come, just to make the business more
home-like.”

Gaeto has officially ‘semi-retired’ from funeral services after
more than 17 years with the Koch Chatley Gaeto Funeral Home. He has
vowed to stay involved with the funeral services and help out with
any growing pains.

Gaeto has been a member of various community and civic
organizations in Bradford and the surrounding area. He is a member
of the Pennsylvania Funeral Director Association, the National
Funeral Director Association, the McKean, Warren, Elk, Counties
Funeral Director Association, a member and past president of the
Western Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association and a past
chairman of the board of directors of the Bradford Housing
Authority. He was a past president of St. Bernard Catholic Church
Parish Pastoral Council and a member of and former secretary to the
Bradford Rotary Club.

Gaeto was also a former member of the City of Bradford Zoning
Board, a former member of the board of directors for the Bradford
Senior Center, a former member of the board of directors of the
Friends of Hanley Library, University of Pittsburgh at
Bradford.

He is also a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in the
Vietnam era.