YELENOSKY, Andrew
Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Andrew Yelenosky will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday February 24, 2014 at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, Austin, Texas. Recitation of the Rosary will be said at 7:00 P.M. Sunday February 23, 2014 at Beck Funeral Home, 15709 Ranch Road 620, Austin, Texas. Andrew passed away Thursday February 13, 2014 surrounded by his loving family.
Andrew "Andy" Yelenosky was the consummate family man - as a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. A member of "The Greatest Generation," he persevered through the Depression and the Second World War. Andy's parents had emigrated separately from the same Slovak region, passed through Ellis Island, and later met, married and settled in a small coal mining town outside of Pittsburgh. Andy was one of seven children. Like his siblings, his first language was Slovak, which he spoke with his father and mother until their deaths.
During WWII, when he was 17, Andy joined the U.S. Navy and served at sea on the USS Carpellotti. On a recording he made on-ship for his family, from his tone and reticence you can hear that he was just a boy. After the war, like many of his generation, he returned home and went to work doing what his father had done - coal mining. He left the mines early enough that the work left no scars on him. But his next job did leave a scar, and, at the same time, gave him an opportunity. Working a metal punch-press, Andy lost part of a finger. The injury gave him both the incentive and the means to better himself. With the $800 in Workers Compensation he received, he bought a car. With that and the GI Bill paying his tuition, he started night school at the University of Pittsburgh to earn a B.S. in geology, which became his life's profession.
Working for the U.S. Geological Survey, he met and married a beautiful, bright young lady from central Pennsylvania, Catherine "Kitty" Bianchini. She was the love of his life and he was wholly devoted to her. Their life together with their children was remarkably comfortable and full of joy.
As a child of poverty raising children of plenty, he often delighted them with his frugality. When a hurricane came through and the power failed, his son-in-law grabbed a flashlight, which provoked Andy to chastise him, "Don't use that; it's for emergencies!" Presenting steaks he had grilled, he noted, "Do you know what you'd have to pay for this in a restaurant?" To his children, he often expressed disapproval with a Slovak expression, or with one of his own invention, "This is reaching the point of ridicularity." With the gift of a great sense of humor, Andy would entertain his family by breaking into a silly song or dance.
It is a testament to his gentleness that, looking back, his children remember even his rather strict discipline as slightly amusing. Though of his generation, Andy was remarkably forward-looking on matters of race and human rights. Certainly some of that came from his father, who bravely defended his and his fellow miners' labor rights even when the consequences were physical violence and exclusion from the mine.
Andy and Kitty involved themselves in their church and gave of themselves to their community. Both were very active in the local Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
Andy is survived by his wife, Kitty Yelenosky; his children Diane and her husband Don Spinelli; Debbie and her husband Jeff Peterson, Stephen Yelenosky and his wife Jill McRae, Mary and her husband Steve Knight; and Michael Yelenosky; his brother George and wife Carlotta; sister-in-law Estelle; 11 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, 2 step grandsons, and 4 step great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the entire staff at Colonial Gardens Alzheimer's Residence for the wonderful care they gave Andy for almost 3 years. We appreciate the loving support they gave him and our family through this difficult time.
We would also like to thank Gentiva Hospice for their care and support for the last year and in his final days.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Andy's name to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at namiaustin.org.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Beck Funeral Home in Austin/Round Rock.
4 Entries
Sounds like he had a wonderful life and family! I am so sorry for your loss.
February 24, 2014
Our condolences to Mary and Steve, and family.
Lulu, Marco and Carla.
February 24, 2014
So happy this good guy made his home and raised his family in Houston. Texas needs more men like Mr. Yelenosky and he will be missed. Steve and I send our deepest condolences to Mary and Steve and the family.
February 24, 2014
We will keep you in our prayer's.John and Thelma mclemore
thelma mclemore
February 21, 2014
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Beck Funeral Home in Austin/Round Rock15709 Ranch Road 620, Austin, TX 78717
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