Peter Janosz

BEDFORD - Peter Janosz, loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, and uncle passed away peacefully at Ten Brook Commons in Lake Katrine, N.Y., on June 9, 2013. He enjoyed a long, full life of 97 years, which he attributed to his daily dose of cod liver oil.

He is survived by his daughter Roslie (Parmenter) Gilpatric and husband James; son Peter Janosz Jr. and wife Karen; granddaughter Amy Ryan, husband Robert Jr. and children, Cailin, Micaela, Robert III, and Cian; grandson Craig Parmenter; sisters, Hessy Zlotek and husband Edward, and Eve Gauvin and husband Charles; brother Alexander and wife Debbie; brother-in-law George Edward Quinn; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary, and his brothers John, Sam, and George.

Peter was born to Nicholas and Solka (Czarnosz) Janosz on May 13, 1916, in Manchester, the oldest of seven children. Although he received only eight years of formal schooling, he was an extremely talented woodworker, carpenter, and musician who truly enjoyed sharing his gifts with others. In the spring of 1937, he met Mary Zaricki at St. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church in Manchester. They married on October 1st of that year and spent 60 years together!

Peter began his working career at the age of 14, and maintained an incredible work ethic throughout his entire life. He held various factory jobs in the Manchester Mills, finally retiring from Swanson Die Co. as a salesman in 1978. He was extremely proud of manufacturing bullets for the Navy during World War II, as he worked seven days a week, without a day off, for four years. The 18 years he spent working as a bus driver for Manchester Transit Bus Company, however, was the profession he loved most.

Peter's natural talent for working with wood developed when he built his entire house by hand in Bedford. During his retirement he enjoyed working in his "shop" daily from 4 to 8 a.m., building birdhouses, wooden silhouettes, and lawn decorations. He even dedicated a year to recreating an exact, model replica of his own house. Peter was also an accomplished musician. He learned to play the accordion and violin with very little formal training, and enjoyed singing in the Russian Orthodox Choir. His favorite pastime by far, however, was watching his beloved Red Sox.

Although Peter did not experience an easy life, his great sense of humor, cheerful disposition, and positive outlook allowed him to be a uniquely content and happy man. His needs were few; his complaints even fewer. Whether it was working in his garden, playing his violin, listening to a baseball game, making his own chicken soup, watching the boats on Cape Cod with his daughter, or even mowing his lawn, Peter had the uncommon ability to find true happiness in the simple things of life. As a result, he was able to experience more joy during his journey here than most people do.

Peter truly loved his family, spending time with them, and reminiscing about his extraordinary life. Although he will be missed dearly, his legacy and memory will remain deeply cherished by his entire family, as well as all of those who were blessed to have known him.

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services: Memorial remembrance will be held on June 25, from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Cain & Janosz Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 74 Brook St., Manchester. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with the Rev. Douglas Rickard, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church.

The family asks, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Professor Terry L. Parmenter Memorial Scholarship, c/o of Ulster Community College Foundation, P.O. Box 557, Stone Ridge, NY 12484

To view the online register book, go to cainjanoszfuneralhome.com.