Vincent C. Jendrzejczak

Vincent C. Jendrzejczak AmsterdamMr. Vincent C. Jendrzejczak, 89, of Church Street, Amsterdam, New York passed away peacefully Sunday, June 1, 2014. He was born September 26, 1924, in Amsterdam, New York, a son of the late Vincent M. and Katherine Kosiba Jendrzejczak. He was a graduate of former Wilbur H. Lynch High School class of 1942. He attended Morehead State College in Kentucky and was a graduate of the American Academy McAllister Institute in New York City. On October 19, 1942, he enlisted in the Navy and served as an electricianmate 2nd class in the Atlantic theater aboard the USS McDougal. In 1944, he transferred to the Pacific theater aboard the USS Kasaan Bay and was discharged in November 1945. Following the service, he worked for Mohawk Carpet Mills. He then completed his education in funeral service in New York City completing his apprenticeship in Troy, New York. In 1949, he established the Jendrzejczak Funeral Home at its original Kreisel Terrace location. In 1950, he joined General Electric Company in the Controls Department. He wrote instruction manuals for the Gas Turbine Department and worked on the original cruise missile for the US Navy in Schenectady, New York and remained with the company until 1958. In 1954, he relocated the business to its current location at 200 Church Street, Amsterdam and continued perfecting his craft. He was a funeral director for almost 65 years until the onset of ill health. Besides the funeral home, he operated his own ambulance service through the years until the inception of GAVAC. He was a member of St. Stanislaus Church, a member of its Parish Council, Cemetery Committee, Holy Name Society and the St. Michael the Archangel Society. As a youth he was also an altar server and served on many committees as a parishioner. His fraternal memberships included the Kiwanis, life member of Knights of Columbus Council 209 and 4th Degree, Elks Lodge 101 and Bigelow-WeaversClub. As a veteran, he held memberships in the Polish-American Veterans, Disabled American Veterans and American Legion Post 701. In funeral service he was a member of the National Funeral Directors Association, New York State Funeral Directors Association, Fulton-Montgomery Funeral Directors Association and the Adirondack Funeral Directors Association. Vince had a lifelong interest in political and public affairs and was a member of the JFK Democratic Club, served as the City Water Commissioner, Commissioner of Elections of Montgomery County and was a nominee for the office of Mayor for the City of Amsterdam. Most of all, he enjoyed and loved his family. He was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, cherished son, loyal uncle and friend. He found time to relax by attending sporting events as a season ticket holder to Syracuse football, as a member of the Amsterdam Municipal Golf Club, following the PGA tour during his time in Florida and attending other sporting activities such as Yankee baseball games. In his youth and later years he also enjoyed bowling and sponsoring teams. You could catch him every day at his local coffee shop enjoying his friends. He is survived by his wife, Mary P. (Walsh) Jendrzejczak to whom he was married October 31, 1947, at St. Patrick's Church in Troy, New York; his sons, Vincent R. (Thelma Shumaker) Jendrzejczak, Williamsburg, Virginia, and George E. (Jo-Ann) Jendrzejczak, Amsterdam, New York; grandchildren, Matthew E. Jendrzejczak, Phoenix, Arizona, Kimberly (Cary) Swartz, Athens, Pennsylvania, Karen (Brian) Scherer, Niskayuna, New York and Vincent J. Jendrzejczak, New York; great-grandson, Michael; sisters, Regina Tumidajewicz, Amsterdam, New York and Rita Lyczko, Hagaman, New York; brothers and sisters-in-law; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his brother, Richard S. Jendrzejczak, who passed away in 2004. A prayer service will be held at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, June 5, 2014, at the Jendrzejczak Funeral Home, 200 Church Street, Amsterdam, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Church, Cornell Street with the Rev. O. Robert De Martinis as Principal Celebrant. Interment with military honors will follow at St. Stanislaus Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, 2012, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to St. Stanislaus Church, 46 Church Street, Amsterdam, NY 12010. Heroes are those who do right....because it is the right thing to do. Please submit online condolences at www.jendrzejczakfuneral.com.