WEBSTER - Victor J. Stefaniak, Sr., 94, of Lake Street, died Saturday, September 5, in Lanessa Extended Care.
He leaves his wife of 64 years, Helen (Sniadach) Stefaniak; a son, Victor J. Stefaniak, Jr. and his wife Carol A. Stefaniak; two grandchildren, Christopher and Sarah Stefaniak; nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by 6 brothers and 6 sisters.
He was born in Webster at the family home, the youngest of the 13 children of Michael and Mary (Makowski) Stefaniak and was a lifelong resident. He was a graduate of Bartlett High School.
He was a World Ward II Army veteran, serving in Europe. He saw action from the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 until the end of the war in Germany. He was awarded a bronze star. He served 37 continuous years in the Army, the National Guard and the National Guard Reserves, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1975.
Mr. Stefaniak worked at Cranston Print Works Company for 25 years. He then was an adjudicator for the Commonwealth of Mass. Employment Office before he retired in 1980.
He was a member of Saint Joseph Basilica and was the first scoutmaster for its Boy Scout Troop #173.
He enjoyed public service. He was a longtime member and former captain of the Webster Auxiliary Police. He was a trained emergency medical technician for the Town of Webster’s Ambulance Squad and was a former president of that group. He had been a member of the rescue squad.
In his younger days, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. In his retirement, he treasured the time spent on Webster Lake with his grandchildren.
The funeral will be held Tuesday, September 8, from the Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, 340 School Street, with a Mass at 10:00 AM in Saint Joseph Basilica, 53 Whitcomb Street. Burial will be in St. Joseph Garden of Peace. The Webster-Dudley Veterans Council will perform the military honors at the cemetery. A calling period will be from 8:15 to 9:15 AM Tuesday, September 8, in the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Webster-Dudley Food Share, Inc., c/o United Church of Christ, Federated, 4 Church Street, Webster, MA 01570.