Daniel Joseph “Danny” Churilla passed away suddenly on January 5, 2022. Danny was born at Calvert Memorial Hospital on May 25, 1968. The fifth child of Michael and Bernarda McGuirk Churilla, Danny grew up in Long Beach.  He was an avid swimmer and liked to go fishing. In his early life, he was a lifeguard and worked in pool maintenance.

Danny spent many summers at his sister, Cynthia’s farm in Georgia. He was a good horse rider and farm worker, cleaning horse stalls and feeding the chickens.  He was as strong as an ox and dug many a hole to install fencing.

Danny enjoyed his winter trips to upper state New York with his dad to his brother, Michael’s farm. There, they spent weeks gathering sap from maple trees and cooking it down into maple syrup.  It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. It was sold in NY and locally.

For the last 25 years, he was his dad’s right-hand man helping his dad at Grandpap’s County Harvest.  Danny helped his dad sell local honey, jams, jellies, and apple butter at Annmarie Garden Maker’s Market, Historic Sotterley Market, Coastal Arts Market, and various other craft shows.

Danny was preceded in death by his mother, Bernarda McGuirk Churilla.  He is survived by his father, Michael Churilla of St. Leonard; his brother, Michael (Deborah) Churilla, Jr. of Richlands, NC; his sisters, Cynthia Churilla of Lexington, KY; Rebecca Willis (Mark) of Prince Frederick, MD, and Marsha Churilla Langley of St. Leonard, MD. His is also survived by his cousins, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and grand-nephews.

Danny was a life long member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church. He was baptized, received his first communion, was confirmed and will have his funeral Mass from his church.

His viewing is at St. John Vianney on Monday, January 10 from 10-11 am, followed by Mass beginning at 11 am.  He will be buried in Grandview Cemetery in Johnstown, Pa on Wed, January 12, next to his mother, Bernarda, his grandparents and many other past family members.

Donations may be made in his name to St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 105 Vianney Lane; Prince Frederick, MD 20678.  Thank you for your condolences and prayers.