Joseph Czentnar Sr.
March 28, 1937 - April 18, 2022
Joseph J. Czentnar Sr., 85, of Wallingford, passed away peacefully April 18, 2022 at MidState Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.
Joe was born in Goncruszka, Hungary on March 28, 1937, a son of the late Istvan and Maria (Orosz) Czentnar.
Joe was a proud Hungarian – American. He grew up in Hungary and in 1956 became a Hungarian “Freedom Fighter” participating in the armed uprising, bravely fighting the Russian army occupation of Hungary in a bid for a free and democratic country. After the Hungarian Revolution he spent the next 3 years living and working in and around Enns, Austria, his adopted country. Ultimately, he immigrated to the United States in 1959 with hopes for a better life. Joe eventually settled in Wallingford, Connecticut, and was honored to become a U.S. citizen in 1968. It is there where he raised his family and worked for several companies including International Silver, Wallace Silversmiths, and Pratt & Whitney Aircraft up until retirement. Joe was active in the Wallingford Hungarian Community Club up until recently. He also had many friends in the Wallingford, Fairfield and Bridgeport area. Joe enjoyed gardening, cooking, making fresh sausages then smoking them in his smokehouse, and especially getting together with his sons to have a bacon fry in the backyard. Joe had a life passion for traveling, and frequently traveled to Hungary to spend time with his siblings and their families there. He was always around to lend a hand and help out with any project, especially for his sons, grandchildren and friends.
Joe will be greatly missed and is survived by his sons, Joseph J. Czentnar Jr. and his wife, Debbie, of Wallingford, Stephen Czentnar and his wife, Maureen, of Middletown and John Czentnar and his wife, Liza, of Hyde Park, NY; his brother Istvan Czentnar of Hungary; his sisters, Mary Gombar, Anne Pelyhe and Elizabeth Toth, all of Hungary; his grandchildren, Brittany Hansen, Andrea Czentnar, Crystalin Czentnar, John Czentnar Jr., Jolene Czentnar, and Cassandra Czentnar; his great-grandchildren, Declan Hansen, Michael Jr. and Coby Uhlman, and Riley Czentnar. He was predeceased by his brother, Imre Czentnar. Joe is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Joe’s family will receive relatives and friends at The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 North Main Street Ext. on Sunday, April 24, 2022 from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. His funeral service will be held on Monday, April 25, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. in the funeral home. Interment will be in St. John Cemetery in Wallingford. Gifts in his memory can be made to the Charity of one’s choice.