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Antoniewicz

Alexander Antoniewicz

Antoniewicz

Alexander Antoniewicz

Alexander H. Antoniewicz

Obituary

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Alexander Antoniewicz Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on May 16, 2005.

ANTONIEWICZ
ALEXANDER H.
On Sat., May 14, 2005 of Lawrenceville. Husband of the late Stefania Salik Antoniewicz; father of Alexandra (John III) Dombrowski & Stephen Antoniewicz; brother of Stella (John) Shray, Julie Zackowski; grandfather of Stefania & Helena. Visitation Mon. 6-9 ELMER L. HERMAN FUNERAL CHAPEL, 5204 Second Ave., Hazelwood. Tues. 2-4, 6-8 in D'ALESSANDRO FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY LTD., Butler at 46th St., Lawrenceville. Liturgy Wed. 10am in Our Lady of Angels Parish-St. Augustine Church.
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Recent Activity

August 18, 2006

Alexandra Dombrowski posted to the memorial.

June 4, 2005

Rob Tuchman posted to the memorial.

May 23, 2005

Eileen Petrosky posted to the memorial.

4 Entries

Alexandra Dombrowski

August 18, 2006

It was hard to sleep the night you died. You had suffered so much for so long, and now suddenly, it was over. You’ve passed on to your eternal, richly deserved, rest. Reflecting upon your life, Dad, it’s impossible to condense 91 ½ years, but here are a few of your highlights:

Born Alexander Henry Antoniewicz, on November 12, 1913, you were also known by the surname of Anthony, after having anglicized your name for work-related purposes in the 1950s. Now at age 91, you died at UPMC St. Margaret on Saturday evening, May 14, 2005. This ended five years and eight months' suffering after a massive stroke which you suffered in Sept. 1999, but which left little more than your body's motor functions to preserve, since most of your cognition and memory had been destroyed, much to our sorrow and anguish, by the stroke. Noteworthy at the time of your death, since it coincided with the 60th anniversary of World War II, is your valorous military service record, having served as a scout in Army intelligence. “Private Antoniewicz,” you were a five-time recipient of the Bronze Star, since you participated in each of the five great battles of the European Theater of Operations. Your commanding officers decorated you for having captured a next of Nazis without a single drop of blood shed. In view of recent carnage seen elsewhere in our world, that was, and always will remain, a sort of miracle, Dad. You’ll never know that you recently received your nomination papers and will be inducted into the South Western Veterans' Center's Hall of Fame posthumously.

You came back from the war, settled and married another World War II survivor, Stefania Salik, a Polish immigrant who had herself narrowly escaped death in the Holocaust, having jumped from a Nazi death train headed for a concentration camp. She made a lovely home for you and for us in Lawrenceville. Mama died in 1973, leaving you sorrowfully widowed for almost 33 years. Here I am your surviving daughter, Alexandra, who can never forget you; your son, Stephen, feels the same. Your son-in-law, John J. Dombrowski, III was so honored to be your son-in-law; your granddaughters, Stefania and Helena, remember you as, “Dziadzius,” or “GrandPap,” and they told me they just had a dream (each of them!), in which they saw you—a younger, healthier you, watching them and smiling, letting them know that you were OK, and that you were watching over them. Tears stung my eyes as they told me this, in their young enthusiasm and fervent belief that you were safe, the gladness and peace in their little faces just glowed. Your sisters, Julia Zackowski and Stella Shray, your brother-in-law, John Shray; nephew, Floyd and wife Shirley Messalle, of Delmont; cousins, Helen Kmak of Tucson, Arizona, and Irene Tardif, of Lawrence, Mass., all came to the funeral or called and sent condolences to us.

Much to your chagrin, your survived all of your friends and roommates, except for Mr. Davis at the South Western Veterans’ Center where you resided the last five years of your life. You also survived your beloved late “Holy Father” for a short while. Hauntingly similar in your life’s coincidences, you and John Paul II shared certain striking details; most notable was the ability to attain victory without bloodshed—the late Pope for his native Poland (and neighboring “satellite” countries when they were freed from communism under Soviet domination), and “Pfc. Antoniewicz” for your platoon. John Paul lost his mother to death when he was a very young boy; you lost your mother to divorce when you were only three years old. John Paul II loved sports, and so did you—all sports! Unlike John Paul, however, you, as a three-year-old toddler, were placed in an orphanage for the next three years of your life. Born into serious poverty, as were children of many immigrant families of southwestern Pennsylvania, you had to be placed in an orphanage along with your two brothers, John and Michael. The eldest brother, our uncle “Johnny,” was eventually able to be discharged, find work, and come back to claim his younger brothers three years later, when you were six years old. In your maturity, you would reminisce that “being in that orphanage stunted my growth!” Little did you know, you would become the proud and loving grandfather of two orphans from St. Petersburg, Russia. All those years you finished raising me and Steve, and you worked hard—as a retired postal worker, serving Downtown and in Lawrenceville. All who were interested at the time of your funeral, were asked to make offerings in your name to The Holy Family Institute, 8235 Ohio River Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15202, located in Emsworth, or to the orphanage of their choice.

Daddy, you were a child of the Great Depression. Because of your early hardships, you taught us about work, saving, and showed us your amazing resourcefulness. You are a son of what’s been called America’s “Greatest Generation,” and we are privileged to know why.

Once again, thank you for your life,

Alexandra, Steve, John and grandchildren, Stefania and Helena.

Rob Tuchman

June 4, 2005

Alex,

I was saddened to learn of your father's passing. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy.

Eileen Petrosky

May 23, 2005

At this time my heart goes out to you and your family. Everyhting happen fast in life. Nothing stays the asme. Hold on tight to your family. Love Eileen and Red Petrosky

Alexandra Dombrowski

May 23, 2005

Dad, how can anyone condense 91 1/2 years of your life? IT WAS AN EPIC. You did your part--no, MORE than your part--to rid the world of Hitler's great evil. Now, young men are doing the same, because the world hasn't learned much. History keeps repeating itself--in shocking ways. I will have to tell your story in little bits and pieces, wherever appropriate, whenever I open up "The Gift of Alex," as the pastor said at church. Thank you, Daddy, for the gift of your life. Your loving daughter, Alexandra