Chester A. “Chet” Reska, 82, of Medway, died Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at the Milford Regional Medical Center. He was the husband of Vivian J. (Bell) Reska who died in 1992.
Born in Dedham on June 28, 1925, he was a son of the late Francis and Mary (Kowalska) Reska. He was a resident of Medway since the early 1950’s and formerly resided in Dedham.
Mr. Reska was a U.S. Navy veteran of the WWII and served for 2.5 years as a gunner on the SS Abraham Rosenberg, the SS L.R. Briggs and the SS Solomon Junau. He received the WWII Victory Medal, the American Theatre Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theatre Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Theatre Medal with 2 stars.
Mr. Reska owned and operated the former Reska Gulf Station on the corner of Main and Holliston Streets in Medway for 38 years until his retirement in 1989.
He was a member of the Medway American Legion Post #367 and the Medway V.F.W. Post #1526. He was also a member of the Bellingham Senior Citizens and the Polish Conversational Group.
An avid gardener, Mr. Reska was a member of the Massachusetts Cultivated Blueberry Association. He enjoyed ballroom and polka dancing.
He is survived by; a son, Chester A. Reska Jr. and his wife, Cynthia of Petaluma, California, V. Jane DeSousa of Franklin and Mary-Lou Reska of New Vineyard, Maine. He is also survived by a sister, Edna Novack of Wisconsin, two grandchildren, David DeSousa and Phillip Reska and many nieces and nephews.
He was a brother of the late Frank Reska, Jessie Dzerkacz, Alice Novick, Edward Reska and Jennie Civaterese.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral on Saturday, October 6 at 9 a.m. from the Ginley-Crowley Funeral Home, 3 Barber Street in Medway followed by a funeral Mass at St. Joseph’s Church, 151 Village Street in Medway at 10 o’clock. Burial with military honors will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in West Medway.
Calling hours will be held on Friday from 6 – 9 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made in Chet’s memory to the American Lung Assoc., 460 Totten Pond Road, Suite 400, Waltham, MA 02451.