The remains of World War II U.S Army Private Joseph Cocco have been returned to his family in Delaware County after 80 years, writes Joe Holden for CBS News Philadelphia.

At age 22, Cocco, an Overbrook native, had been reported missing in Italy during combat.

On Sept. 9, 1943, Cocco was declared dead, but the military was unable to locate his remains.

His grandmother and mother sent letters to the Army for years searching for him.

“She cried, she cried a lot,” said Cocco’s niece, Jo Ann Spata, of her grandmother. “I was little, but I remember her crying all the time. I think it stayed with me, the memories of her son.”

Two-and-a-half years ago, the Army asked his nieces to provide a DNA sample.

Finally, in August, Jo Ann was told they had found his remains.

For 81 years, Cocco had been buried in an Italian cemetery in an area for unknown American soldiers.

The family received his remains on Nov. 14.  He was laid to rest Nov. 18 with full military honors at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon.

“He’s finally going to be back with his mother. She’ll have him again,” Jo Ann said.

Find out more about Private Joseph Coco and his family at CBS News.