Paul Edward Zientek, age 70, of Bushkill, PA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
Born and raised in Bayonne, NJ, Paul was the son of Edward and Jeanette Zientek. He grew up with his younger siblings, Robert and Mary Jean. They loved hanging out with all of their cousins, including Bobby and Danny who lived right upstairs from them. They remained close with their extended family for years, making great memories at large gatherings, like the Mt. Carmel Parish Christmas parties.
Paul had been a hard worker since his first job pumping gas as a teenager. He became a dedicated autoworker for General Motors on the assembly line in Linden, NJ, where he also served as a UAW committeeman since he was never afraid to speak up for his crew. After an early retirement, he started his own business cleaning beer tap lines before eventually focusing on his health.
While Paul took pride in his work, his greatest joy came from time spent with family. Not long after meeting Maryann Clarke, the two married on July 9, 1977, beginning a beautiful life together. They spent their summers at KOA campgrounds with their two kids, Stacy and Christopher. Paul enjoyed crabbing and fishing, and sitting around a fire with friends and family. He was a hands-on dad who taught Christopher how to play baseball and basketball. He loved watching baseball with Stacy, his "sunshine," who always knew the Yankees' starting lineup, even as a toddler. Attending Christopher's games and Stacy's cheer competitions were the proudest moments of his fatherhood.
Paul and Maryann built their dream home in Bushkill, PA, in 1995, where he got satisfaction from the simple pleasures of life. He loved listening to the Rolling Stones on his front porch with his doggies, Samber, Snowball, Marley, Honey, and also with his grandpups, Mocha and Coco. He enjoyed walking them around the Saw Creek pond and cooking big dinners for them (and for his family, too). Paul was a devoted fan of the Yankees, Dolphins, Blue Devils, and Hurricanes, and he recently started watching the WNBA, rooting for Caitlin Clark.
Paul was thrilled to watch his family grow. He always looked forward to joking around with his son-in-law Rich, often trying to convert him into a Yankees fan, and teaching his daughter-in-law Kristin how to make some of his favorite recipes. However, Paul's whole being was his four grandsons. They were his world. He always had a Matchbox in his shirt pocket for Max, who shared his love for cars. His cool buddy Lucas had great times busting chops with him. Paul and Tyler were early birds who hung out in the morning watching the Discovery Channel and having grown-up conversations about things like outer space and aliens. He loved being silly with Daniel, whose imagination always made him smile. Whether it was Sunday FaceTime calls, family gatherings at Stacy's, or visiting Tyler and Daniel in Pittsburgh, he treasured the opportunities to watch his grandsons grow up.
Paul faced significant health challenges over the past decade with remarkable courage and determination. His daughter Stacy donated the stem cells that saved his life when he beat cancer in the first of seven battles. His family called him Superman for fighting to make more memories with them, a strength he shared with his resilient brother Robert. Recently, he flew in a helicopter over Niagara Falls with Stacy and Max, and traveled to Miami with Christopher to watch the Dolphins play. After Maryann's unexpected passing, his sister Mary Jean became his closest companion, checking in on him multiple times a day. Their long conversations about sports would drift into sharing memories and stories they had never told each other, bringing them closer than ever. MJ also gave him Honey, the adorable puppy who became his inspiration during his final months and laid by his side on the day of his passing.
Paul is reunited with his beloved wife, Maryann. He is survived by his dear daughter Stacy Puchalik and her husband Rich, his beloved son Christopher Zientek and his wife Kristin, his beautiful grandchildren Max and Lucas Puchalik and Tyler and Daniel Zientek, his siblings Robert Zientek and Mary Jean Zientek. Paul is preceded in death by his wife Maryann Zientek (nee Clarke) and his parents Edward and Jeanette Zientek.
At Paul's request, cremation has taken place and no funeral services will be held. A private memorial service to scatter his ashes will be held at a later date.
Born and raised in Bayonne, NJ, Paul was the son of Edward and Jeanette Zientek. He grew up with his younger siblings, Robert and Mary Jean. They loved hanging out with all of their cousins, including Bobby and Danny who lived right upstairs from them. They remained close with their extended family for years, making great memories at large gatherings, like the Mt. Carmel Parish Christmas parties.
Paul had been a hard worker since his first job pumping gas as a teenager. He became a dedicated autoworker for General Motors on the assembly line in Linden, NJ, where he also served as a UAW committeeman since he was never afraid to speak up for his crew. After an early retirement, he started his own business cleaning beer tap lines before eventually focusing on his health.
While Paul took pride in his work, his greatest joy came from time spent with family. Not long after meeting Maryann Clarke, the two married on July 9, 1977, beginning a beautiful life together. They spent their summers at KOA campgrounds with their two kids, Stacy and Christopher. Paul enjoyed crabbing and fishing, and sitting around a fire with friends and family. He was a hands-on dad who taught Christopher how to play baseball and basketball. He loved watching baseball with Stacy, his "sunshine," who always knew the Yankees' starting lineup, even as a toddler. Attending Christopher's games and Stacy's cheer competitions were the proudest moments of his fatherhood.
Paul and Maryann built their dream home in Bushkill, PA, in 1995, where he got satisfaction from the simple pleasures of life. He loved listening to the Rolling Stones on his front porch with his doggies, Samber, Snowball, Marley, Honey, and also with his grandpups, Mocha and Coco. He enjoyed walking them around the Saw Creek pond and cooking big dinners for them (and for his family, too). Paul was a devoted fan of the Yankees, Dolphins, Blue Devils, and Hurricanes, and he recently started watching the WNBA, rooting for Caitlin Clark.
Paul was thrilled to watch his family grow. He always looked forward to joking around with his son-in-law Rich, often trying to convert him into a Yankees fan, and teaching his daughter-in-law Kristin how to make some of his favorite recipes. However, Paul's whole being was his four grandsons. They were his world. He always had a Matchbox in his shirt pocket for Max, who shared his love for cars. His cool buddy Lucas had great times busting chops with him. Paul and Tyler were early birds who hung out in the morning watching the Discovery Channel and having grown-up conversations about things like outer space and aliens. He loved being silly with Daniel, whose imagination always made him smile. Whether it was Sunday FaceTime calls, family gatherings at Stacy's, or visiting Tyler and Daniel in Pittsburgh, he treasured the opportunities to watch his grandsons grow up.
Paul faced significant health challenges over the past decade with remarkable courage and determination. His daughter Stacy donated the stem cells that saved his life when he beat cancer in the first of seven battles. His family called him Superman for fighting to make more memories with them, a strength he shared with his resilient brother Robert. Recently, he flew in a helicopter over Niagara Falls with Stacy and Max, and traveled to Miami with Christopher to watch the Dolphins play. After Maryann's unexpected passing, his sister Mary Jean became his closest companion, checking in on him multiple times a day. Their long conversations about sports would drift into sharing memories and stories they had never told each other, bringing them closer than ever. MJ also gave him Honey, the adorable puppy who became his inspiration during his final months and laid by his side on the day of his passing.
Paul is reunited with his beloved wife, Maryann. He is survived by his dear daughter Stacy Puchalik and her husband Rich, his beloved son Christopher Zientek and his wife Kristin, his beautiful grandchildren Max and Lucas Puchalik and Tyler and Daniel Zientek, his siblings Robert Zientek and Mary Jean Zientek. Paul is preceded in death by his wife Maryann Zientek (nee Clarke) and his parents Edward and Jeanette Zientek.
At Paul's request, cremation has taken place and no funeral services will be held. A private memorial service to scatter his ashes will be held at a later date.
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