Andrew J. "Butch" Hvozdovic

Mr. Andrew J. "Butch" Hvozdovic, a well-known and well-respected life resident of the North End section of the city, passed into eternal life, early Wednesday morning, July 11, 2018, in the care of Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, following a recent illness.

Born March 25, 1934, in Wilkes-Barre, he was a son to the late Andrew A. and Anna Koval Hvozdovic.

Educated in the city schools, he was a graduate of the former Sacred Heart of Jesus Slovak parochial school, and later became a member of the 1952 graduating class of the James M. Coughlin High School, Wilkes-Barre. At Coughlin, he was a member of the very last all-male cheering squad.

He was a member of the Parish of St. Andre Bessette, North Wilkes-Barre, having previously been a life member of the former Sacred Heart of Jesus Slovak Roman Catholic Church, prior to its closure and subsequent merger.

Following his formal education, Mr. Hvozdovic proudly served our country during the Korean Conflict with the U.S. Army, earning the rank of Private First Class at the time of his honorable discharge from duties on Nov. 23, 1955.

Upon his return home, Mr. Hvozdovic was employed by the former United Furniture in Wilkes-Barre for some 20 years. On weekends, he also worked as a security guard at Pocono Downs.

On April 26, 1958, in the former St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Pittston, he married his beloved wife, Margaret Louise Balint Hvozdovic, with whom he recently celebrated sharing 60 years of married life together.

A man who dedicated his life to service, instilling these virtues on to his own sons, he later became employed by the City of Wilkes-Barre Bureau of Fire as a firefighter for 28 years, retiring in 1987.

Mr. Hvozdovic remained very active in local fraternal and social organizations over the years. He held membership in the North End Slovak Citizens Club, where he served as president, board of governors and chairman of the board of governors; the Carpatho-Russian Citizens Club; the Polish American Veterans Club; the Polish American Organization; the Triangle Club of Miners Mills; was a board member for Wilkes-Barre Golf Club, Bear Creek Twp.; the former Tatra Club of Luzerne County; was a member of Council 302 Knights of Columbus, Wilkes-Barre; and was a fourth-degree Sir Knight of Columbus with the Bishop William J. Hafey Assembly.

Proud of his Slovak heritage, he also held membership in the Slovak Catholic Sokols, where he was president of Assembly 59 in Wilkes-Barre; was past president of Group 7, Slovak Catholic Sokols; past supreme vice president; was a member and past chairman of the Supreme Court.

For his many years of dedicated service to these organizations, he was awarded "Fraternalist of the Year" in 2011 for the Slovak Catholic Sokol and was named "Person of the Year" in 2007 at the North End Slovak Citizens Club, Wilkes-Barre.

Enjoying the outdoors, in his spare time, Mr. Hvozdovic was an avid hunter, fisherman, golfer and also enjoyed bowling in various leagues over the years. His favorite baseball team was the New York Yankees, while he held loyal as a fan to the Philadelphia Eagles football organization.

Butch was preceded in death by sisters-in-law, Mrs. JoAnne Hvozdovic, Mrs. Dorothy Lippi; and more recently by a niece, Mrs. Darlene Hvozdovic.

Left to mourn his passing, in addition to his wife, Louise; are the couple's sons, the Rev. Andrew S. Hvozdovic, who is pastor of Epiphany Parish in Sayre; and Steven A. Hvozdovic and his wife, Chyrisse, North Wilkes-Barre; grandsons, Steven Hvozdovic Jr. and Lance Cpl. Joshua Hvozdovic, who is currently stationed in Okinawa, Japan, with the U.S. Marine Corps; twin brother, Mr. Joseph Hvozdovic, Wilkes-Barre; brother, Mr. Bernard Hvozdovic and his wife, Charlotte, Kendall Park, N.J.; one niece; several nephews; fellow parishioners and dear friends.

Funeral services for Mr. Hvozdovic will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday from the North Wilkes-Barre location of John V. Morris Family Funeral Homes Inc., 625 N. Main St., followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. in Parish of St. Andre Bessette, 668 N. Main St. The Rev. Andrew S. Hvozdovic, his son, will be principal celebrant, the Rev. Monsignor Walter R. Rossi, rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine, Washington, D.C., will serve as homilist. The Rev. Kenneth M. Seegar, pastor of St. Andre Bessette, will serve as concelebrant, with the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton in attendance.

Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in Sacred Heart of Jesus Slovak Roman Catholic Cemetery of St. Andre Bessette Parish, Dorchester Drive, Dallas, where military honors will be accorded by the U.S. Army and tributes by members of Wilkes-Barre Fire Department.

Relatives and friends may join the Hvozdovic family for visitation and shared memories from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

In lieu of floral offerings, Butch's family would be humbled if those contemplating a memorial donation in his memory, kindly give consideration to the Church of the Epiphany, 304 S. Elmer Ave., Sayre, PA 18840.

To send Louise and her sons words of comfort, a fond remembrance of Butch or for further information, please visit our family's website at www.JohnVMorrisFuneralHomes.com.