BLANCHE DUNIK Longtime South Side crossing guard always cared for family and others
| May 16, 1924 - July 28, 2015
Neighbors and family members could always count on Blanche Dunik to help them out, keep a secret and break out the chocolate to make life sweeter.
The longtime South Side resident spent her childhood caring for her 10 siblings and then worked for 30 years as a school crossing guard. She made time to listen to everyone, and when she died Tuesday at an assisted living center in Indiana Township, her granddaughter Sarah O’Neill of Murrysville said, “There are secrets she definitely took to the grave with her.”
Mrs. Dunik was born May
Passed away in his sleep on July 25, 2015, of complications due to colon cancer. Born on August 12, 1933, to William Henry and Theresa Bolek Borger, Bill spent his childhood in Baltimore, MD. As a youth he exhibited a keen interest in sports and cars, which would remain his passions throughout his life. He was fond of recounting exploits on the baseball team managed by his father and recalled every car he owned and the details surrounding each. Following graduation from Baltimore Polytechnic in 1952, he joined the U. S. Air Force in 1953, serving16, 1924 histo Polish country immigrantsduring the Korean Marion and War Bernardauntil DecemberGasiorowski. 1956. While in Korea he She had a hard life, served on the C-119 aircraft. Evenbut it in madethe her middle strong.of a As war a zone young child,he managedshe washed andto participateprepared as hera member deceasedof his2unit's year-old Mustangs sister baseballfor burial, team. Two major events took place and as an adult “she could upon his return to the States. In have December arm-wrestledof 1956 anyone,” he marriedher daughterthe former Linda Leota SurdickJane Iliffof Allisonwho would Park remainsaid. his only true Mrs. love Dunikeven following graduated her untimely death in 1999. from South High School and Additionally, following his dischargemet Michael from Dunik,the Air an Force,“old he neighborhoodbegan a career kid,” in as the Ms. oil industry Surdick that described would him.last untilThe his teenagers retirement quicklyin Decemberfell in 2014. Though his career would love, but Mrs. Dunik’s Polish take him through five states and parents uncounteddidn’t approvemiles on of the road, boy’s he Ukrainianalways found heritage.time for his Afraid family, her sports father and would cars. Driven to excel, he attended night school at the University of Baltimore and received his Bachelor's degree in 1968. In 1975, Bill and his family settled in the Pittsburgh area for the third and final time. Landing initially in Upper St. Clair and later moving to Canonsburg, Bill became active in the community. He could be seen frequenting the links of local golf courses on the weekends, attending church at St. David's Episcopal Church or haunting VFW Post 764 on Friday nights. When the weather was favorable, you could catch Bill prowling the streets in a parade or attending local car shows in one of his many antique or specialty automobiles. Bill was predeceased by Leota, his wife of 43 years. He is survived by his sons, William Henry III and Steven Charles, both of whom reside in Florida; and daughter-in-law, Karen and Sandra; grandson, William Robert; and stepgranddaughters, Amber and Danielle; he is also survived by sister, Nancy Borger Greene and her daughter, Linda Thomas. Funeral services will be held in Riverside Cemetery in Winnebago, Minnesota on August 8, 2015. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations to cancer research. Please add tributes at:
www.beinhauer.com try to prevent the marriage, Mrs. Dunik boarded a train at age 19 and eloped to Texas, where Mr. Dunik was stationed on a military base. The young lovers got married in 1944 at the base, but it didn’t feel real until they returned to Pittsburgh for a traditional wedding at St. Adalbert Church.
Their storybook romance tragically ended when her husband died in 1953, and Mrs. Dunik was left to raise their young daughters alone.
To support her family, she took in renters in their home and began work as a school crossing guard in 1958. For
Age 73, of Richmond, VA, formerly of Bethel Park, PA, passed away at home on Friday, June 19, 2015, after a short battle with cancer. Loved and cherished by his wife of forty years, Terry (Imber); two daughters, Sheri Burns and Laurie Wages; and son-in-law, Ray Wages. Chuck devoted his life to his family, including his grandchildren, Hannah, Katelyn, Lexi, Luke and he will be joining Tyler in heaven. Born November 5, 1941, in Bethel Park, he was a veteran of the US Army, a lifetime member of the VFW and Jugoslav Club and retired from I.U.E.C. Local 6. Relatives and friends are welcome to a Memorial Mass and Celebration of his Life on Monday, August 3, 2015, at 10 a.m. at St. Valentine Church, 2710 Ohio St., Bethel Park, PA 15102. 30 years, she gave out candy to school children and lent a nonjudgmental ear to anyone who walked past her at 14th and Sarah Streets.
“They’d talk to her because she really had a knack for listening well” and keeping a confidence, said her daughter Patricia “Cookie” O’Neill.
Even though Mrs. Dunik didn’t fulfill her father’s wishes that she marry a Polish boy, she honored her heritage. She made the finest halupkies — stuffed cabbage leaves — in all of South Side, according to Ms. Surdick, and sent her two girls to Polish Catholic schools.
Everyone was welcome in her home, even a tatteredlooking man who randomly knocked on her second-floor apartment one day to ask for a sandwich.
“She always believed that was Jesus,” Ms. Surdick said. “Even though we didn't have much of anything, everyone always knew that they could come to our
Age 64, of Mount Lebanon, suddenly on Friday, July 31, 2015. Beloved husband for 22 years of Nicolene Zapach; devoted father of Elysse, Emily and Lily; loving son of L. Ruth and the late Melvin Dalzell; brother of Cindy (Tim) Volek; uncle of Meaghen and Bradley (Emily) Volek. John was an avid golfer, a Pittsburgh sports fan and a participant in the Three Rivers Families with Children from China. Friends will be welcomed at
222 Washington Road, Mount Lebanon MONDAY from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held in Mount Lebanon United Methodist Church, Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock. ( Everyone Please Meet at Church.) Interment Mount Lebanon Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Western Pennsylvania Humane Society, 1101 Western Avenue, Pittsburgh. PA 15233 or to the Church at 3319 West Liberty Avenue, Dormont, PA 15216 house and she would give something.”
During occasional personal time, Mrs. Dunik consumed newspapers and mystery novels at a pace that astonished her daughters. Always the caretaker, she loved looking after her many dogs and — unbeknownst to her daughters for many years — sending money to impoverished children in Africa.
In addition to her daughters, Mrs. Dunik is survived by her siblings Rose Nachylowski of South Side, Mary Serzen of North Hills, Sophie Pielin of Mount Washington,
Age 78, of Pittsburgh, passed Michaelaway peacefully Gasiorowskiat his of home South on Side Wednesday,and HelenJuly 29, 2015. Vensak of He Brentwood.was born in Sewickley,A funeral PA, Masson Septemberwill be celebrated 14, 1936, the son of the late at 10 a.m. in St. Adalbert Ernest Francis and Helen Ellen (Paley) Church, Devine. SouthHe is Side, survivedon by Monday.his wife, Diana Vee Johnston, Instead whomof flowers,he marriedthe July family9, 1959; suggest two donationssons, Keithto (Susan) and John Devine; three Little Sisters of the Poor. grandchildren, Shawn, Bryant and Sarah Devine; and brother, Robert (Susan) Devine. He was a General Science teacher at Langley High School for 32 years, where his students often remember him for his unique and interesting science experiments. He was active for many years in the Boy Scouts, earning the Silver Beaver award. He coached Langley High School volleyball, Sheraden Little League Baseball and Girls Slow-Pitch Softball. In the past few years, his favorite activities included singing with the Harmony Singers of Pittsburgh and performing with the Vintage Radio Players. He belonged to Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church of Sheraden, where he was Choir Director for many years. He was a founding member of the West End Christian Ministries ( WECM). He enjoyed being with his family, fishing and going to his campsite. Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, August 2, 2015, at 3: 00 p. m. at TRINITY EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH, immediately followed by a wake to Celebrate his Life! Memorial gifts may be sent to Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, 3102 Sherwood Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15204. Interment of his ashes will be in Chartiers Cemetery, Carnegie, PA.