Charles A. "Chuck" Sophy

Charles A. "Chuck" Sophy, 75, who was born in Pottsville on Aug. 3, 1939, passed away Wednesday in Pottsville.

He was a loving and caring son to the late John and Grace Ruhanna Sophy.

He attended Pottsville Catholic School and graduated from Nativity BVM High School in 1957.

He was a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, and St. Anne's Maronite Church, Scranton. He was also a member of the Humane Fire Company and the Phoenix Hook and Ladder Fire Company, both of Pottsville.

He was self-employed for his entire life. He owned and operated Pete's Cigar Store in downtown Pottsville for 37 years. As a runner for his uncles, he learned and witnessed the best that Pottsville was and had to offer. He was a familiar face downtown and a friend to many generations. He was one of the last people that could actually remember and tell stories about all the good people of Minersville Street. He was a Pottsville legend and a friend to all.

He loved music and had seen Frank Sinatra many times and visited Las Vegas throughout the decades. He was at Mass every morning, and he chose to stand in the back. He loved to take long walks and longer drives. He drove many beautiful cars and loved the feel of the road, especially all of the backroads to every diner in Eastern Pennsylvania.

He enjoyed coffee, jokes, football, card games, betting, horse racing, craps, homemade Lebanese food, but above all, family. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Jeannette Stevenosky Sophy, who was the love of his life for 54 years. He looked forward to Jeanette's homemade dinner every night with his family, extended family and even strangers. Even with his last dollar, he would buy a meal to enjoy with his family just so they would be together. As parents, they sacrificed so much for the success of their children.

He was the most loving father and supportive husband. He was there for anyone that was sick or in need. He was there to bury his friends and many, many loved ones. He was proud of his family, his heritage and his legacy. He handled everything that was thrown to him with strength and could always find the joke, even during unfunny times.

He will be remembered for having the quickest wit and being the sharpest dressed. He was the strongest man we have ever met. He was down so many times, yet he always fought his way back. He was counted out many times throughout the years. "Never a straight line," he would say. And though the road was a crooked road, he found his destination no matter how hard it was or how long it took.

In addition to his parents, Chuck was preceded in death by a son, Daniel Sophy, in 1970; and a brother, Mickey Sophy, in 2007.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Jeannette; daughters, Theresa Pothering and her husband, John, Deer Lake, Aggie Sophy and Grace Padelsky, both of Pottsville, and Charlotte Whitehead and her husband, Todd, Jacksonville, Fla.; sons, Charles Sophy and his wife, Alison, Pottsville, and John Sophy and his wife, Kelly, Newtown; two sisters, Theresa Zelinsky, Pottsville, and Grace Ann Sabados, New Jersey; and a brother, Tony Sophy, Pottsville. He was an amazing and loving grandfather to 11 grandchildren, Marissa Siluk and her husband, Bill, Jen Pothering, Shannon and Devin Sophy, Sadirah, Alexa and Caitlin Sophy-Croley, Ray and Aaron Padelsky and Bailey and Lyla Sophy; two great-grandchildren Matthew and Alex Siluk; nieces, nephews and cousins.

We could never imagine our lives without him. He has touched so many lives with in quiet ways and without attention or expectations. He was bigger than life and taught us how to be proud, humble, generous and courageous. As a figurehead, he was the strongest living influence in the family. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and there will never be another one like him. Our hero, our leader, our father.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville. Relatives and friends are invited to a viewing from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Robert A. Evans Jr. Funeral Home, 208 Pike St., Port Carbon. Interment will be held in Our Lady of Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville. Please send condolences to www.robertaevansjrfh.com.

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