Sunday’s Obituary: Panko Hruszczak

This coming Saturday will be the 47^th anniversary of my great grandfather passing away. Panko Hruszczak left his parents and his homeland when he was just a teen. He came to America, traveling in steerage, hoping for a better life.

He settled in Coatesville, Chester County where he met and married Bessie Matys. He worked in the steel mill for most of his life. He and Bessie raised a large family here. Their second son, Joseph, is my grandfather.

His obituary reads:

Panko Hruszczak (Ruczhak), 75, of 274 New St., Coatesville, died at his home Thursday afternoon. He had been in failing health for four years.

Hruszczak, who was the husband of Bessie Matys Hruszczak, was born in Galicia, Austria, and had resided in Coatesville for 35 years after coming to this country as a young man.

He had retired from Luken’s Steel Co. approximately 11 years ago where he was employed in the die shop of central maintenance for 15 years. He was formerly employed by Bethlehem Steel Co.

Hruszczak was a member of the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Coatesville.

Surviving besides his wife are five sons: Joseph Ruczhak, Theodore Ruczhak, Nicholas Ruczhak, Paul Ruczhak, and Peter Ruczhak, all of Coatesville; and four daughters: Katherine, wife of Chester Wiker, of Coatesville; Mary, wife of Michael Senn, of Drexel Hill; Helen, wife of Jack Prybylinski of Chester; and Ann, wife of Jack Peazzoni of Downingtown. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Sources:

Daily Local. (West Chester, PA), 28 December 1968.

Sunday’s Obituary is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.

Comments

Coatesville's First Serial Killer

Young Alexander Meyer was a disturbed and angry young man with some major issues. He had failed sixth and seventh grade, and instead of having to repeat eighth grade again, he finally gave up on school. At age 16 he quit Downingtown Junior High. Meyer is not a relative, nor are his victims (that I am aware). I stumbled upon young Alex while reading Tortured Minds: Pennsylvania's Most Bizarre - But Forgotten - Murders by Tammy Mal. On 11 February 1937 Alexander Thweatt Meyer killed young Helen Moyer as she walked home from school in Coatesville along Modena Road. She was not his first. The jury was out only three minutes after hearing Dr. Michael Margolis' testimony on the death of Helen Moyer. The jury determined Meyer had murdered Moyer and should be held for first degree murder. The jury also condemned the parole system which had released Meyer back into the public, after having served just 14 months in Huntingdon Reformatory, for the murder of two other girls - Anna Blasc...

Thaddeus Stevens at the Lancaster Convention Center

Within the Lancaster Convention Center (Lancaster, PA) is a small section dedicated to Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith. The section is known as the Stevens & Smith Historic Site. It is scheduled for development this year. At the moment one can only get a glimpse of it through the Convention Center or by peeking in from the outside. Here at Queen and Vine Streets in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania, Thaddeus Stevens had his law office. Stevens was an abolitionist. An abolitionist is a person who favors the abolition of a practice or institution, especially capital punishment or (formerly) slavery. Stevens was born 4 April 1792 to Joshua Stevens and Sarah (Sally) Morrill in Danville Vermont. One of four children, he attended Vermont University from 1810 to 1812 when the War prompted its closure. He then went to Dartmouth, where he graduated in 1814. He then studied law and found himself set up in Gettysburg, PA in 1816. He practiced law there until 1828 when he...

52 Ancestors: Remembering the King

Today is Elvis’ birthday. He would have been 80 today. I was only eight when he died so obviously I am too young to have seen Elvis perform. However, when I hear his music, I go back in time. I am once again that young girl dancing in the living room to Elvis and other greats with my father. Back then girls learned to dance by dancing with their fathers not some video of scantly dressed people doing all sorts of things young ladies should not be doing in public! What is YOUR favorite memory - either of your father or of Elvis? 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a weekly genealogical challenge issued by Amy Johnson Crow, of No Story Too Small . Look for my weekly posts each Thursday! © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

Genealogical Gems

Search This Blog