The Sons of Andrew Piszczor Sr. & Anna Szczypta, Part 3

The year is 1967 and the brothers are posed in the drive of Joseph Piszczor (Pezar) in New Salem PA. Another 14 years have passed since the last brother group picture and this time the reason that brought everyone together is one on a sad note. The event is the passing and burial of their father, Andrew Piszczor, Sr., who died at the age of 80. So many members of the family showed that many of us were put up in the homes of neighbors for a few nights. This also meant the cleaning up and preparing the farm for sale outside the family.

(For those keeping score, from left to right: Walter Sr., Michael Sr., Jesse Sr., Andrew Jr., Joseph and John Piszczor)

Andrew Piszczor Sr. & Anna Szczypta - Anna passed away in 1962 just shy of her 83rd birthday. You already know what happened to Andrew Sr., he lived on the farm until his death with occasional visits to church and the Slovak Club.

John Piszczor - John's wife Ann Slosar passed away in 1957 in Cleveland area. By this time John left photography and had started his Real Estate business, building homes through out the south Cleveland suburbs. In 1959 he remarried in Cleveland to Amelia Bruscino.

Joseph Piszczor - Joe had worked his way up the union leadership ladder and was the local Mine Workers Union President. He and Helen had four grandsons now; three from Donald and Mary Ann (Donald (Dj), James and Steven) and one from Bernard and Martha (Bernard).

Andrew Piszczor Jr. - Andy and Helen moved to East Cleveland after he retired from coal mining and went to work for General Electric. They also had a granddaughter, Sabrina Sue Migyanko, from Betty Lou and Charles Migyanko.

Jesse (Hyacinth)Piszczor Sr. - Jesse and Josephine still lived in Cleveland. He had worked at the Old Mill Tavern with his brother Michael for years but recently started working at White Motors along with his brother Walter and his nephew Donald. They finally had a son, Jesse, Jr, in 1954 and a by this time Carol and David Latham gave them a granddaughter, Michelle Latham.

Michael Piszczor Sr. - Mike and Julia also continued to live in Cleveland. Mike now owned and operated the Old Mill Tavern. In 1956 they had a son, Micheal Jr., born in 1956 and a daughter, Barbara Ann, in 1958.

Francis Piszczor - Frank passed away in Painesville after battling cancer in 1958. Monica continued to live in Painesville with her daughters. She remarried in 1964 to John Lannen and moved to southern California. By this time there was one new granddaughter in her family, Charmain, form Paulette and Bernard Bullock.

Walter Piszczor Sr. - Walter stayed in Cleveland and married Margret Patrick in 1954. Between the 45th Anniversary in 1953 and 1967 they had five children; Marion (1955), Walter Jr. (1958), Matthew (1959), Marlene (1961)and William (1964). Walter was still working at White Motors.

Back to the Uniontown Area

As I wrote about earlier, we were able to get back to Uniontown for a weekend for the first time in over ten years. Knowing how spread out most of you have gotten I bet it's been even longer for many of the rest of us. While we were more focused on visiting and seeing some family sites we didn't do much sight seeing but we did take some pictures and wanted to put them out here just thinking you might just be curious about how much may or may not have changed.

Thee are more photos sitting in the web album.

Remebering Helen Schifko Piszczor (Boskovich)

This is MY Aunt Helen. A close friend to my mother Josephine and closest person I had as second mother into my teens. I stayed at her home quite often and going back there at any time is like returning home. She made that house a warm and welcoming place to anyone that had the chance to stop by. She was a person who talked straight to me but still allowed me space to be a bit stupid at times, though not enough space to really get myself hurt! My Aunt Helen was a generous person. I fondly recall the times she took me shopping in Uniontown when I was a child. She was enjoyable to be with even when she was laying down the law. She taught me a lot that I didn't even I realized I was learning until later in my life. I could also say she had the patience saint and strong willed, though when you come down to it you could say that about any the women who married a Piszczor.

Helen L. Piszczor Boskovich, 91, of New Salem, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 6, 2007, in the Uniontown Hospital with her loving family by her side.

She was born April 2, 1915, in Lamberton, the daughter of the late Frederick and Julia Kaminski Schifko.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Joseph Piszczor, her second husband, Frank Boskovich, son, Donald J. Piszczor, and brothers and sisters, William, Henry, Fred, Jr., Edward, Mike and Elmer Schifko, Martha and Elizabeth Schifko, Mary Kolinsky, Emma Olschesky and Margaret Trumpka.

Helen was a member of Saint Thomas Roman Catholic Church in Footedale, a lifetime member of the Loyal Order of Moose, a member of the former Saint Theresa Guild and Saint Thomas 55+ Club.

She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

Left to cherish her memory are sons, Bernard F. Piszczor and wife, Martha, of New Salem, and Thomas S. Piszczor of Canonsburg; grandchildren: Donald Pezar, Jr. and wife, Pilar, James Pezar and wife, Rebecca, Steven Piszczor and wife, Toni, Joanne L. Watkins, Kim Croci and husband, Kevin, Bernard Piszczor and wife, Lauri, Jennifer Harvey and husband, Kenneth, Jr., Joseph Piszczor and Michael Piszczor; great-grandchildren: Jakob an Seth Pezar, Stephanie and Monica Piszczor, Bethany and Adam Croci, Sarah Piszczor, Megan Liptak and Kenny Harvey III; and many special nieces and nephews.

Burial: Saint Thomas Roman Catholic
Footedale, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, USA

You can view more photos of Helen by clicking here to see her album.

Holy Trinity Orthodox Cemetery List, New Salem

Just wanting to continue the head stone listings I aquired on our trip through the cemeteries where I knew I had relatives. This list is from the Holy Trinity Orthodox Cemetery on the south side of New Salem. I didn't get that many from this trip due to our time constaints and a long weekend. Like with the St. Thomas Cemetery I plan to get more informationon my next trip!

SURNAME GIVEN DOB DOD
BELLISH Andrew C. 3/19/1915 - 12/25/1975
BERDAR Frank Sr. 7/16/1915 - 1/23/1969
BERDAR Mary Tittnich 5/13/1923 - 4/20/2006
BERDAR Michael Charles 2/17/1947 - 8/28/2005
BRYAN Mike 1908 - 1976
ELISH Charles 12/28/1924 - 3/23/1944
KALLONICH Metro unknown - 1958
KARWATSKE Anthony S. 11/24/1924 - 1981
KARWATSKE Helen Sabo 4/24/1925 - 7/10/2005
KOTT Dora Stranak 9/15/1903 - 11/11/2004
KOZUP Andrew Jr. 10/22/1905 - 12/14/1992
KRINGETA Sophia Bryan 11/16/1916 - 11/26/2002
MAGDA Frank 6/6/1947 - 1/31/2006
MANZUK Andrew 11/18/1931 - 6/20/1982
MANZUK Anna Glagola 10/23/1913 - 7/15/2004
MARTINEWSKY Daniel unknown - 3/15/1970
MARTINEWSKY George unknown - 2/2/1960
MIGYANKO Alex 1888 - 1978
MIGYANKO Alex, Jr 1914 - 1998
MIGYANKO Anna M. 1915 - 1986
MIGYANKO Anna J. 1921 - 2001
MIGYANKO Catherine 1895 - 1962
MIGYANKO Charles 1913 - 1974
MIGYANKO Frank 12/12/1948 - 6/13/1992
MIGYANKO George 7/14/1922 - 5/3/1995
MIGYANKO John M. 1916 - 1989
MIGYANKO Kathryn 10/2/1939 - 3/1/1996
MIGYANKO Mary 1915 - 1986
MIGYANKO Nicholas 1926 - 1970
MIGYANKO Phillip 5/1/1939 - 2/21/1977
MIGYANKO Steve 12/31/1917 - 1/7/1988
MONESTERSKY Michael A. 12/2/1917 - 4/3/1976
MORTICHESKY Inez Lasagna 1/2/1925 - 4/5/2004
MORTICHESKY John C. 1918 - 8/15/1957
MOTIL Samuel Sr. unknown - 1/1/1959
SEVOLLA John J 10/31/1916 - 11/21/1986
SIDUN John 1/1/1927 - 1975
SINKO Frank P. 8/16/1927 - 6/7/1968
STROMICK Charles 12/24/1929 - 3/16/2005
VATERBACK Charles (Vasil Vorobok) unknown - 2/21/1965

Migyanko - Holy Trinity Orthodox Cemetery, New Salem

Lest I not mention this, there was one other cemetery that Sandy and I stopped at. This was the picturesque hillside Holy Trinity Orthodox Cemetery. It was almost an afterthought, but when I was young every once in awhile we would attend this church with my uncle, Andrew Jr. As things happen my uncle Andy fell in love with this beautiful woman, one Helen Sinko, whose family just happened to be of the Russian Orthodox faith. Somewhat like in the movie 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' (though I'm sure without all the hilarity) he loved her enough to accept her faith as his own. But I digress.

Knowing there probably was some connection to the family in there we searched about for the winding and hidden entrance until we found our way in. Unlike the St. Thomas cemetery, this is built right up the hillside without much of what you could call roads through it. By this time, after a long day and just recently having heart surgery a few weeks previously, this was not the time I would be roaming through headstones. But as fortune would have it as we drove around the small loop road that did exist I noticed a familiar name. Migyanko! I recalled that my uncle's younger daughter, Betty Lou Piszczor, married a Migyanko... Charles Jr. by name! Now I don't believe I've seen her since 1994, and that's partly my fault, so I think I best do something about that soon. As you will see in the album I did run across a grave site for a Charles and Mary Migyanko, so I wonder if I found his parents. Next time I will be certain to get a better picture overlooking the cemetery and how it just fits into the landscape.

Click here to see the Migyanko head stones I was able to document!

Remebering Josephine Ann Piszczor

Josie was the second oldest cousin of the third generation of Andrew Piszczor Sr. and oldest daughter of Andrew Piszczor, Jr. A fun person to be around, I didn't get to know her as well as I would have liked to as she moved around the country with the work her husband, Irvin, had in the aeronautical industry. I used to mainly see her in passing through from Long Island and Louisville as well at family gatherings.


VANSICKLE, "JOSIE" A., 69, of Naples, FL, fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, June 24, 2007. She was born December 13, 1937 in New Salem, PA. She moved to southwest Florida the spring of 1995 and was an active member of St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church in Naples, FL.

Her brother, Daniel Piszczor; brother-in- law, Robert Benedek and a nephew, Charles Migyanko, III, predeceased her. Her beloved husband, Irvin; son, Jeffrey; and daughter, Jennifer Paplaczyk; grandchildren, Andrew, Amy, and Oliva Paplaczyk survive her. Also, a sister and brother-in-law, Betty Lou and Charles Migyanko; sisters-in- law, Sandy Willis and Barbara Benedek; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Carol and Dan VanSickle and brother-in-law, Cloyde VanSickle, survive her. Also nieces, Danielle Gundling, Sabrina Turpak, Tina Horvath, Sharon Wise, Lori Barr, Lee Anne VanSickle and Sarah VanSickle; and nephews, Maxwell and Ray Lee VanSickle survive her.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Saint Michael Orthodox Church, at the corner of Furman and Hikes Lane. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4 - 9 p.m. Friday at St. George Chapel at St. Michael Church. Trisagion prayers will be said 8 p.m. on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Josie's Memorial Fund for Beautification of the Church Interior of St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church, 2425 Rivers Road at Immokalee Road, Naples, FL 34120. Ratterman & Sons, 3800 Bardstown Rd. is in charge of arrangements. Published in The Courier-Journal from 6/27/2007

Remebering Donald Joseph Piszczor

Don was the oldest of the third generation of Andrew Piszczor Sr. Don was the one who taught me about house painting, or more accurately getting some paint on a house while I covered myself in it. I got to know him very well when he lived in the apartment upstairs of my parents house. He even "rescued" me from a Boy Scout reservation one time out of the blue and spirited me off to his home for one of the best meals I had in quite awhile. Even though he was about 20 years older we used to pal around after I graduated from college and was there whenever I came back east for a visit when I lived on the West Coast.

Don was not a shy fellow and was usually in the middle of the action at family gatherings; if you ever needed to find Don at a wedding you could find him behind the bar, being the bouncer or taking the cash during the Money Dance. He married Mary Ann Rahija of Akron, OH in April of 1957.

Donald J. (Pezar) Piszczor, age 69, of Rowes Run, (Redstone Township) Pa., formerly of New Salem, Pa., passed away peacefully Sunday, August 28, 2005, in Tara Hospital, at Brownsville, Pa., with his loved ones by his side.

He was born November 23, 1935, in McClellandtown, Pa., son of Helen Schifko Piszczor Boskovich and the late Joseph Piszczor.

Don was a member of the Saint Thomas Roman Catholic Church of Footedale, Pa., a former employee of White Motors, a retired employee of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Sheriff's Department, a member of Fairbank Rod & Gun Club and a former member of Newboro Indians Club.

He is survived by his mother, Helen Boskovich; his children: Donald J. Pezar, Jr. and his wife, Pilar of Malysia, James A. Pezar and his wife, Rebecca of Perry, Ohio, Steven C. Piszczor and his wife, Toni of Clayton, N.C., and Joanne L. Watkins of Orlando, Fla.; his fiance, Dorothy Ladina, and her daughter, Julann Onderko, and her husband, Joseph and their three children, Justin, Kayla and Moe, all of Rowes Run; his grandchildren: Jakob Pezar, Seth Pezar, Stephanie Pezar and Monica Piszczor; his brothers: Bernard F. Piszczor and his wife, Martha of New Salem, Pa., and Thomas S. Piszczor and his wife, Katherine of Washington, Pa.; and his nieces and nephews: Kimberly A. Croci, Bernard J. Piszczor, Jennifer L. Harvey, Joseph M. Piszczor and Michael R. Piszczor.

Sorry for the lag.. but have some sad news

Was sent back into the hospital last week for a few days but all looks well now and working to catch up on life things, so have not been able to build on the site for awhile. With me being home bound on doctor orders I should be able to spend more time on this.

On a sad note, while I was in the hospital Bernard (Bernie) Piszczor passed away. Bernie was one of my most favorite cousins, more like the big brother I never had. I loved the man even though I haven't been able to see him in over ten years. At least had the opportunity to spend some time with him and his family two weeks ago. I am just sad I wasn't able to attend his funeral due to my health.

Bernie was a fellow who always had time for you. When you were at his home you felt like you were the most important person there was. Restoring cars was one of his favorite hobbies. It was Bernie who taught my son Errik how to shoot a rifle, who went on to qualify Expert in the U.S. Marines.

His sister-in-law Mary Ann was kind enough to send me a copy of his obit that I would like to share with you:

10/05/2007
Bernard F. Piszczor

Bernard F. Piszczor, 67, of New Salem, Pa., passed away peacefully Wednesday, October 3, 2007, in his home with his loving family at his side, following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

He was born August 20, 1940, in New Salem, the son of the late Joseph Piszczor and Helen Piszczor Boskovich.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Donald (Pezar) Piszczor and his stepfather, Frank W. Boskovich.

Bernie was a member of St. Thomas Roman Catholic Church in Footedale. He was a welder with Boilermakers Local 154, Pittsburgh, for over 35 years, a former employee of Fruehauf Corporation, former co-owner of P-Zar's Bar and Grille, a member of General George C. Marshall AMVETS Post 103, Hopwood, Ridgeway Elks 872, The Rough Riders, Connellsville Slovak Club, Sons of Italy 231, Uniontown, and the Summit Mountain Early Iron Car Club. Bernie was an avid golfer, hunter and craftsman. He loved vacationing and spending time with his family and friends.

Friends will be received in DEARTH FUNERAL HOME, New Salem, Pa., on Saturday, October 6, 2007, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., Sunday, October 7, 2007, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Monday, October 8, 2007, until 10:30 a.m. when prayers will
be said in the Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Thomas Roman Catholic Church, Footedale, with the Rev. Father Peter Peretti as Celebrant.

Interment will follow in St. Thomas Church Cemetery, Footedale.
Wake Service will be held Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions
may be made to American Cancer Society and St. Thomas Roman Catholic Church.