Mark S. Bacewicz

1967 - 2020

Mark S. Bacewicz, 53, of Dallas, passed away Monday, Oct. 26, 2020, in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Born March 15, 1967, in Wilkes-Barre, Mark was the son of Casimer and Ann Stempleski Bacewicz, Plains.

Mark grew up in the Hilldale section of Plains Twp., attending Lieutenant Duddy Grade School, Plains Jr. High School and Wilkes-Barre Vo-Tech. He was a graduate of James M. Coughlin High School, Wilkes-Barre, Class of 1985, and a graduate of Penn State University, Harrisburg Campus, Class of 1989, with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering.

Mark was employed as a professional engineer, having spent his career of over 30 years working for Susquehanna Valley Construction. Susquehanna Valley is a New Cumberland based bridge contractor that builds bridges throughout Pennsylvania. The owners and co-workers were a pleasure to work beside and considered top notch in Mark's book. He believed the old adage, "Find a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life." Mark truly loved his job.

Mark enjoyed attending various engineering and construction seminars to gain new ideas and techniques in the field. He had the utmost respect for all of the PennDot and PA Turnpike contractors and consultants he had the pleasure of working with over the years.

Mark was a member of the Dallas School Board and the Homeowners Association of Goodleigh Manor, the development in which he and his family resided.

Mark was not a sports fanatic but rather enjoyed home improvement projects for himself, family, friends and neighbors. You could always expect him to try and make a deal or trade skills for projects he worked on. He enjoyed making improvements to the rental properties he owned. He always liked to be busy and thought not much for sitting around. He could occasionally be found watching The History, Discovery and Velocity channels on TV.

Although he maintained routine doctor visits, cancer snuck in silently: no advance warnings, no family history, no notice, no nothing. He learned to embrace today because tomorrow may have a different outcome than expected. He fought a courageous battle in a very short time from his diagnosis, enduring surgery, chemotherapy and finally a stem cell transplant at Sloane Kettering, New York City.

Mark was a wonderful husband and father. He was married to his beautiful wife, the former Sharon Vacendak, for the past 20 years. He has a wonderful daughter, Isabella, the light of his life, who was his tag along on weekends to help with whatever project he had on the agenda.

In addition to his parents, wife and daughter, Mark is survived by his sister, Christine Cholewa and her husband, Leonard, Mountain Top; niece and goddaughter, Jennifer Wren and her husband, Mark, Clearwater, Fla.; niece, Alexandra Cholewa, Harrisburg; nephew, Nicholas Cholewa, Philadelphia. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Sandy Strazdus and her husband, Ray; and niece, Sophia Strazdus, all of Dallas; godparents, Veronica Ciuferri and Daniel Stempleski; several aunts, uncles and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in Our Lady of Victory Church, 16 2nd St., Harveys Lake, with the Rev. Daniel Toomey, pastor, officiating. Those attending the Funeral Mass, please go directly to church Friday morning.

Interment will be held in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Carverton section of Wyoming.

Masks or face coverings are required at all times at the church and cemetery. Please practice social distancing when paying your respects.

Arrangements entrusted to Corcoran Funeral Home Inc., 20 S. Main St., Plains.

For additional information or to leave Mark's family a message of condolence, please visit www.corcoranfuneralhome.com.