John I. Grajewski

John I. Grajewski, 91, passed away peacefully Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, at Celebration Villa, Berwick, where he had been staying.

John was born on the family farm in Huntington Mills (Townline Corners) on Jan. 27, 1930, and lived on the farm for his entire life, except for the last 3 years, when aging and declining health had him requiring more care. He was a son of the late Ignatius and Anna Nejako Grajewski. He was a member of St. Martha's Church, Fairmount Springs.

In his youth, John spoke Polish to his parents and learned English from his older siblings and at school. He graduated from the former Huntington Mills High School in 1948. He was a dairy farmer who spent his early years farming with horses and scythes, trapping animals to sell their pelts, hunting with his older brother Richard and friends, in particular the Shaw and Johnson brothers, and rarely taking a vacation while his children were young.

Later in life, John gave up farming and worked at various times for the former Berwick Forge and Fabricating, at Red Rock Job Corps, as a Schwan's delivery man, and as a newspaper carrier for both the Press Enterprise and Times Leader, for which his daily route took him over 200 miles through the Shickshinny, Benton and Berwick areas.

He took trips in his later years to visit his grandchildren and to attend family weddings. He was fortunate to be able to travel to Florida, Alaska and Montana over the years. John never met a stranger. Within minutes of meeting someone, he would figure out how he knew them and who they were related to and where they lived. This quizzing of friends and nursing staff and health care aides never ceased to both amaze and discomfort his family.

John was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Grajewski; and a sister, Victoria Ditata.

Surviving are his wife, the former Anna M. Latzko, with whom he celebrated their 63rd anniversary on Nov. 8; a son, Robert Grajewski and his wife, Susan Garing, Kirkwood, N.Y.; five daughters, Janet Tooley and her husband, Bill, Tega Cay, S.C.; Donna Grattan and her husband, Regis, Shickshinny; Susan Grajewski, Woodbury, N.J.; Joanne Osborne and her husband, Jeff, Mifflinville; and Maria Grajewski and her husband, Scott Cox, Warriors Mark; 12 grandchildren, Caitlyn Bagwell, Christopher Tooley, Rachel Minor, Becca Woodring, Jessica Tooley, Theodore Grajewski, Thomas Burns, Julia Grattan, Teagan Grattan, Connor Grattan, Megan Osborne and Bryson Osborne; six great-grandchildren, Jack Bagwell, Quinn Bagwell, Max Minor, Lainey Minor, Romy Woodring, Baker Woodring; and a sister, Regina Sill and her husband, Pete, Arlington, Va.; and numerous nieces and nephews, especially Carol Gayeski.

The family would also like to extend a tremendous thank you to the amazing staff at Celebration Villa, Berwick, who treated our father as their own and to the Commonwealth Hospice of Berwick team. Although our father's time with hospice was brief, the loving care and kindness extended to our father will never be forgotten.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in Holy Spirit Parish/St. Martha's Church, Fairmount Springs, with his pastor, Rev. Louis Kaminski, as celebrant. Burial will be at the convenience of the family in St. Martha's Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Mayo Funeral Home Inc., 77 N. Main St., Shickshinny.

For information, or to send condolences, please visit www.mayofh.com.

Consider donating in John's name to The Hospice Promise Foundation, Berwick, PA region, 901 Hugh Wallis Road South, Layfayette, LA 70508 or to a charity of your choice.