James R. Cortese

James R. "Jim" Cortese, 94, of Brackenridge, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, April 11, 2025. He was born February 15, 1931, the last surviving child of the late Francesco "Frank" and Angeline (Mastroianni) Cortese. Jim served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was an avid train collector and proprietor of Jim's Trains, an authorized Lionel train dealer. Jim was known as Mr. Lionel to his friends. When he was not playing with his trains, he and his wife of 67 years would go for rides in his beloved Ford Mustang. If he was not playing with his trains or out for a ride in his Mustang, he was a technical assistant at PPG Research and Development until his retirement in 1994. Jim was a member of Guardian Angels Parish, Most Blessed Sacrament Campus in Natrona Heights and a member of the former Holy Martyrs Parish in Tarentum. Jim is survived by his children, Debbie Jean Hopkins, Diane A. Wells, Carol Lynn (Greg) Estok and Kenneth James Cortese, grandchildren, Jennifer (Hopkins) Timmer, Amy Hopkins and Samuel Wells and by many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, his 5 brothers and 2 sisters, Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor A. "Lorrie" (Wojcik) Cortese on October 22, 2019. Friends will be received on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. in the Cicholski-Zidek Funeral Home, Inc., 1522 Carlisle Street, Natrona Heights 724-224-8688, where a parting prayer service will be held on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00 a.m. in Most Blessed Sacrament Church. Burial will be in Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell. To send an online condolence please visit www.cicholski-zidekfh.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Jim may be made to the Humane Animal Rescue, 6926 Hamilton Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa.  15208.