Genealogical Gems

John Yuzwiak is my great uncle. Specifically he is my paternal grandmother’s brother-in-law. He was born 29 August 1904. He married my Baba’s (grandmother’s) sister Catherine Kurenda. He was died 3 February 1984. His funeral service was held at Maclean Funeral Home in Coatesville, Chester County . He is buried at the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Cemetery in Valley Township , Chester County . Funeral Card Friday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers. © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2016

Catherine Kurenda Yuzwiak is my Baba’s sister. She is buried with her husband, John Yuzwiak, at the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Cemetery in Valley Township , just outside Coatesville in Chester County . She passed 37 years ago yesterday so I thought it fitting to feature her today on Tombstone Tuesday.   Catherine was born on 1 January 1912 to John and Frances Skrabalak Kurenda. She married John Yuzwiak (1904 – 1984) on 29 June 1929 at Holy Ghost Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (as it was then called). They had two sons: John and Stephen. She died on 16 November 1978.   Tombstone Tuesday is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.   © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

My family events this week: Birthdays Happy birthday this week to Samuel Buckley, Uncle John (John Ruczhak), Dawn Soanes and Robert Walkling! This week is also my Godmother’s daughter, Mary Roebke’s birthday! May God grant you all Many Years.    Memory Eternal Polly Deyoe died 154 years ago today (1 February). She is hubby’s 3 rd great aunt. She is the daughter of Jacobus “James” Deyoe and Annatje “Hannah” Walker.    John Bing passed 125 years ago Monday (that is, 2 February). John’s my distant cousin! According to FTM, he is my first cousin five times removed. He is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Bing. He was born in 1818 in Chester County but at some point moved to Centre County . There he married Melissa Iddings, fathered a daughter Wilda and died on 2 February 1890.   Tuesday is the 16 th anniversary of Mabel Lawrence Geib passing and the 31 st anniversary of John Yuzwiak passing.  Mabel is the daughter of Walter Lawrence an...

  John H. Yuzwiak, Jr. Born 22 November 1949 Died 16 July 2002 Vichnya Pamyat   buried at Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, Valley Twp., Chester County, PA John was born in 1949 to John and Catherine Kurenda Yuzwiak. Catherine is my Baba's (Anna Kurenda Ruczhak) sister. He had a brother Steve who had three children. John was very active in the Church and served in various positions, including Parish Board President.

PFC Paul Kurenda was only 22 when he gave his life for our country. He became ill fighting in Europe during WW2. He was brought back to the States and finally was transferred to Valley Forge General Hospital where he died. He was buried in the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Cemetery in Valley Township, Chester County sharing a plot with his parents. His father had predeceased him and is buried to the other side so that Paul is between his parents. He was born in 1922 to John and Frances (nee Skrabalek) Kurenda. Paul had two brothers: Peter and John. In addition, he had three sisters Mary, wife of Andrew Sokso; Catherine, wife of John Yuzwiak; and Anna, wife of Joseph Ruczhak. (Anna & Joe were my grandparents).

The 1940 Census has finally been released. Ancestry.com, and other genealogy help sites, are still indexing the images and making it all pretty so it is easier for all of us. I chose 1940 under the census choices. It them asked me to select my State and county then municipality. Since I knew my grandparents were living in Rock Run at the time, I chose them to start with. I chose then Pennsylvania - Chester County - Valley Township. I found them! There was Gigi - my grandfather! Joseph Ruczhak, age 21, shows up married to my Baba (grandmother) Anna, age 19. The couple above them - John and Catherine Yuzwiak - are Baba's sister and brother in law. Notice the circle "X" next to baba's name? That indicates that she was the one who provided the information to the census taker. One question I do have concerns with the schooling. Baba shows that the highest grade she attended was 8th grade which was normal for that time. Gigi however has an "H4" in that colu...