John F. “Chun” Szymczyk – Donora,
John F. “Chun” Szymczyk, 92, of Donora, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, at Havencrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Monongahela. He was born in Donora on June 7, 1929, a son of the late George and Josephine Kawa Szymczyk. He was Catholic by faith and a longtime member of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, where he would cut buns for the fish fry during Lent. A veteran, Mr. Szymczyk served with the U.S. Air Force as a sergeant and received the World War II Army Occupation Medal. An avid baseball fan, John spent his lifetime cheering for the Pittsburgh Pirates and was offered a contract by the Detroit Tigers, as a pitcher upon leaving the service, which he respectfully declined having met the love of his life, Laura. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Laura Petrosky Szymczyk, on Dec. 9, 2012; three sisters, Stella Wawrzynski, Laura Niziolek and Jessie Vargo; and two brothers, Frank Simchak and Edward Szymczyk. John was the youngest and last surviving member of his immediate family. Surviving to cherish his memory is his daughter, Sharon (Don) Bartoe of Donora; two grandchildren, Ryan (Amy) Bartoe of Weirton, W.Va. and Cory (Sabrina) Bartoe of Roanoke, Va.; three great-grandchildren, Taylor Zdan, Kyiah Bartoe and Kynzlei Bartoe. Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANTHONY L. MASSAFRA FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICE INC., 40 Second St. Ext., Carroll Township/Donora, PA 15033, 724-379-6900, where the family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m.to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. Prayers will be recited in the funeral home at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9, followed by an 11 a.m. memorial Mass at the Donora campus of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish. To be socially responsible during this time of the increase in COVID-19 cases due to the new variants, we will continue to require guests to obey social distancing guidelines and personal protection guidelines, which include masks within the funeral home. Thank you. To share a condolence please visit www.massafrafuneralhome.com.
