William J. Zalewski

WILLIAM JOSEPH ZALEWSKI

Age 88, of Whitehall, on Monday, January 4, 2021 due to complications from dementia and Parkinson's Disease. Beloved husband of 67 years to Nancy (Kowalski) Zalewski; loving father of 7 children: Judith (Zalewski/Ken) Kugel, Susan (Zalewski) Holmes, William J. (Sandy) Zalewski, Jr., John (Kathleen) Zalewski, Lawrence (Dana) Zalewski, Edward (Kathleen) Zalewski, and Victoria (Zalewski/Michael) Decosmo; cherished grandfather to 15 children; great grandfather to 10 children. Preceded in death by his father William Joseph Zalewski (1965) and mother Elizabeth Staubach (1973). Bill was born in Wheeling, WV on Saturday, October 22, 1932; graduated from Central Catholic High School (Wheeling, WV) in 1950; married the love of his life Nancy Kowalski (of Detroit, MI) on March 19, 1953; proudly served in the United States Army from 1952-1954; was a Korean War Veteran during his service, earning the rank of corporal; attended Tool & Dye trade school to become a machinist after his military service; and worked for Mobay/Miles/Bayer Corporation in Moon Township as a machinist for 29 years. Bill was also a devout Catholic, member of the Secular Franciscan Order, volunteered at Mercy Hospital, enjoyed attending Novena at St. Paul of the Cross Monastery on Monday nights in the Arlington section of Pittsburgh, and rarely missed Sunday mass at his favorite parish St. Stanislaus in the strip district of Pittsburgh. He was also very proud of his Polish heritage and kept Nancy busy cooking him all of his favorite authentic Polish foods! Bill absolutely loved watching and attending Notre Dame college football games on Saturday afternoons as well as spending many late evenings reading various Catholic prayer books and books about both Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II; even once writing to and receiving a letter from Mother Teresa herself! Bill cherished spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and was very honest, humble, loving, generous, giving and appreciative toward everyone. Unfortunately, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no visitation. This breaks our hearts as Bill had numerous friends and relatives who we wish could've had the opportunity to pay their last respects to him in person. Funeral services will be private and for immediate family members only on Thursday, January 7, 2021. Bill's final resting place will be within Notre Dame Chapel Mausoleum located at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery on US Route 19 in McMurray, PA (Peters Township/Washington County). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Bill's name to the Secular Franciscan Order at the following web address: https://secularfranciscansusa.org, or by mail to Secular Franciscan, P.O. Box 40198, Pittsburgh, PA 15201.